Learn About Nature and Sustainability Through NLB's First Augmented Reality (AR) Guide Book

The National Library Board (NLB) has produced a new mini book that incorporates Augmented Reality (AR) features, which will be made available in the coming weeks at the Choa Chu Kang Public Library, as part of the offerings related to nature and sustainability in the Green Grove located near the entrance at Level 4. 

In the mini book, titled “Green Grove: Augmented Reality Books”, patrons will find extracts from six books in NLB’s collection, available at public libraries, on Singapore’s flora and fauna. The titles are:

  • A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore (Call Number: English SING 595.789095975 KHE)
  • Native Orchids of Singapore: Diversity, Identification and Conservation (Call Number: English SING 584.4095957 YAM)
  • A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of Singapore (Call Number: English SING 598.095957 YON)
  • Temasekia: 50 Plants and Animals Native to Singapore (Call Number: English SING 508.5957 TEM)
  • Wild Singapore (Call Number: English SING 508.5957 DAV)
  • Sea Creatures (Call Number: English J 591.77 SIM)

The image extracts from the books serve as AR markers that patrons may scan using NLB’s new AR Books app to watch the images come to life in 3D – to see dolphins swim, pangolins curl up, kingfishers fly, and more.

 

 

Screenshots of 3D images in the NLB AR Books app

Patrons may also wish to borrow the full versions of the books from our public libraries to deepen their learning of the various topics covered by each book.

This is the first mini AR book that NLB has launched in public libraries, which is also accessible online. As part of NLB’s ongoing efforts to reimagine our libraries and archives under the LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) vision of a Learning Marketplace, patrons can look forward to exploring more content in this new format in the coming months. The next mini book will feature books on iconic sites in Singapore such as Gardens by the Bay and kampongs, and more details will be shared when ready.