4 April 2025 — The National Library Board (NLB) will celebrate its 30th anniversary as a statutory board this year with an exciting series of events for all. From June 2025, everyone can look out for different NLB30 events, including pop-up libraries around town to discover more Singapore literature, a keynote series featuring literary luminaries, and just for children (and some adults too!) a special Book Bugs event, and more.
Since 1995, NLB has been on a journey of innovation, to bring reading and learning to Singaporeans in engaging and accessible ways. Its journey has been guided by various masterplans, including the latest LAB25 (Library and Archives Blueprint 2025). These plans have also served to expand and extend its network and resources – both physical and digital - to reach everyone everywhere. Its celebrations this year will be underscored by that spirit of innovation and accessibility, enabling everyone to discover new reading and learning opportunities in Singapore. Please refer to Annex A for an initial list of events.
Reading Together
Kicking off the events will be the family-friendly and favourite of many, Book Bugs. The reading programme, launched in 2016, features a collectible card game to encourage children to visit libraries to read more and discover joy in reading. As part of NLB30, the Book Bugs celebrations in June 2025 will feature more than 400 of the Book Bugs in a showcase, along with two collectible commemorative cards – one from NLB and another from the Asian Civilisations Museum – for fans and all to check out.
Another highlight of NLB30 is READ30. This special instalment of the biennial Read! Fest, NLB’s signature event that promotes reading, will take place in July and comprises three key elements: a marquee experience where visitors can escape reality and connect with books through their five senses; a special Presidential Pop-up Library showcasing books on Singapore's Presidents, both past and present; and a series of pop-up nodes sharing curated book recommendations from 30 prominent Singaporean personalities.
Learning Together
NLB has been working closely with partners in the community over the years, including to set up partner libraries as well as to run programmes. This year, and in conjunction with SG60, NLB is working with partners on two initiatives that will help deepen the understanding and appreciation of our communities in Singapore. NLB is collaborating with the National University of Singapore’s Department of Malay Studies on the Prominent Malays of Singapore online bilingual database. It will feature prominent Malays who have contributed to Singapore in the last 60 years, in areas such as academia, arts, culture, sports and business. The database is also supported by partners in the community, namely the Malay Language Council, Malay Heritage Foundation Board, and Berita Harian.
The Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture, a community organisation, initiated the development of the Encyclopaedia of Singapore Tamils as a gift to the nation on its 60th birthday. Supported by NLB and the National Arts Council, the digital encyclopaedia will be launched later this year and will serve to document key aspects of Singapore Tamils’ life and times, across a range of topics like society, arts, culture and education.
Discovering Together
To further discovery through books and beyond, NLB is also organising Open Book: The NLB30 Keynotes, a series of public talks featuring visionary thought leaders from diverse fields such as Professor Tommy Koh, luminaries from Singapore’s literary community, and more. These dialogues aim to provoke conversations, explore the future of reading and learning, and envision how libraries and archives can innovate to be spaces of discovery.
The #Heart&Soul showcase, scheduled to open at library@orchard in the second half of 2025, is the flagship SG60 event that will offer Singaporeans an immersive and multi-sensorial experience. The showcase, which is jointly organised with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and reflects the Smart Nation 2.0 vision, seeks to inspire visitors with a sense of optimism about their future and the future of Singapore. After the showcase, selected sections will remain in the library to continue to inspire NLB patrons to read, learn and discover well into the future.
The annual celebration of NLB’s birthday, Love Our Libraries and Archives (LOLA), is also a signature SG60 programme. As part of the programme, patrons can contribute digital love letters to the libraries, archives, and Singapore, which would be displayed across our library network. NLB will also mark the occasion with cake-cutting parties at libraries and archives across Singapore, with the main celebration taking place at the National Library Building. This occasion will bring together staff, alumni, volunteers, partners and more to commemorate NLB’s journey, celebrate achievements, and reaffirm its commitment to fostering knowledge and learning in the community. LOLA will also kickstart a month-long series of community activities and programmes, including the popular Big Book Giveaway, where patrons can pick up pre-loved books from NLB’s collections.
NLB30 comes on the back of another year of strong offerings from NLB. In its latest annual Year-In-Review, visitorship across the NLB network continues to rise steadily post-pandemic, growing by 1 million from 19.8 million in 2023 to 20.8 million in 2024. Visitors have also been participating actively in NLB’s variety of programmes and exhibitions, with the number of participants growing from 2 million in 2023 to 2.86 million in 2024. These include numerous workshops on writing and creation. NLB’s Nodes, extensions of learning experiences beyond our physical libraries, expanded further to more locations including train stations, bus interchanges, and hospitals. In total, some 41.8 million visitors had come across the Nodes in many different locations around Singapore. Total loans also registered a significant increase of 2.5 million from 2023 to 38.8 million in 2024. In addition, Reach has moderated from 78% in 2023, but remains strong at 70% in 2024.
Please refer to Annex B for more details of NLB’s 2024 Year-In-Review 2024.
NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ng Cher Pong said: “We are grateful that many Singaporeans have come to see NLB as a trusted partner in their reading, learning and discovery of the world around us. With NLB30, we are reaffirming our commitment to everyone, that our libraries and archives will continue to be essential pillars of knowledge and community. This milestone year and our commemorative events would give us a chance to rekindle for some, and deepen for many the love for reading and learning in Singapore.”
Members of the public can expect even more NLB30 initiatives throughout the year, each designed to inspire, educate, and connect the community through the power of books, learning, and shared experiences. Patrons may also visit the NLB30 webpage at https://go.gov.sg/nlb30 to get the latest details.
As NLB continues to reimagine its libraries and archives to meet evolving needs, patrons can look forward to rejuvenated libraries with enhanced visitor experiences, and greater convenience and accessibility. Bukit Batok Public Library is set to reopen in the first half of 2026 at twice its original size, with new design and programme concepts. Other upcoming revamps include Queenstown Public Library and Ang Mo Kio Public Library in the coming years.
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About National Library Board
The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections in Singapore and the region.
NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).
For more information, please visit the NLB website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.
Annex