Discover First Ever Pop-up Library Dedicated to the Singapore Presidents
With special book selections by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former Presidents Madam Halimah Yacob and Dr Tony Tan
12 July 2025 — Ever wondered what books our Singapore Presidents read? Check out NLB’s latest node – the first ever Presidential Pop-up Library, with more than 20 titles specially selected by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and former Presidents Madam Halimah Yacob and Dr Tony Tan.
This morning, President Tharman, Madam Halimah and Dr Tan officially opened the Presidential Pop-up library, which is part of READ30, an NLB event that brings Singaporeans together to celebrate the love of reading.
They were then hosted by Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo on a tour of the pop-up library. READ30 was earlier launched by Mrs Teo on 5 July 2025 in celebration of NLB’s 30th anniversary.
Blending reading, history and heritage, this unique pop-up features the specially selected titles, as well as about 40 other titles related to past and present Singapore Presidents. Visitors can discover the books, stories and ideas that have inspired the Presidents of the Republic of Singapore. Selected titles are available for borrowing as e-books at the pop-up library. Physical copies of the titles are also available in various NLB libraries.
Modelled after the Istana, the Presidential Pop-up Library welcomes visitors with a captivating showcase of all nine Presidents of the Republic of Singapore. Visitors can trace the rich history of the nation’s Presidency, and hear firsthand accounts of pivotal moments that defined each of their terms through oral history recordings, including from the National Archives of Singapore. [Photo credit: NLB]
Explore 21 recommended reads by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former Presidents Madam Halimah Yacob and Dr Tony Tan at The Presidents’ Recommended Readings corner. [Photo credit: NLB] (More details on the book recommendations can be found in Annex A)
NLB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ng Cher Pong said: “We are very honoured that President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and our former Presidents have supported the setting up of this pop-up library with 21 recommended reads. As we celebrate SG60 as well as NLB30, we hope this gives visitors a chance to read and learn more about Singapore’s Presidents, and how their thoughts and actions have shaped our nation.”
Browse through a curated collection of books with insights on or by the Presidents, along with other books that explore their lives and the Istana. Selected eTitles are available for borrowing on the eReads screen. [Photo credit: NLB] (More details on the books can be found in Annex B)
Check out the interactive display to discover inspiring quotes from a few of the Presidents’ recommended reads and books they have written. [Photo credit: NLB]
Uncover little-known facts about the Presidents with an engaging quiz on Singapore’s Presidents Through the Years. Race to the top of the leaderboard and stand a chance to win a book from the pop-up library’s browsing collection through the lucky draw. [Photo credit: NLB]
The fun of reading continues! The Presidential Pop-up Library, which runs until 2 September 2025, is just one of many exciting experiences in READ30’s city-wide celebration. Check out other READ30 highlights, including eight vibrant library pop-up Nodes from National Library Building to Orchard Road (5 July to 20 July 2025), featuring 90 recommended reads from 30 iconic Singaporean personalities, including author Myle Yan Tay, musician Shabir Sulthan, actress Haryani Othman, chef and restaurateur Violet Oon, and equestrienne Gemma Rose Foo, and Worlds Within (5 July to 27 July 2025), a sensory-rich marquee experience at the National Library Building where stories come alive through all five senses. More details on the book recommendations and personalities featured at the Nodes can be found in Annex C.
Nurturing a nation of readers: A look back at Read! Fest through the years
Read! Fest is a biennial festival organised by NLB to celebrate the joy of reading and inspire all to read. In 2016, it became a part of the National Reading Movement, encouraging Singaporeans to Read More, Read Widely, and Read Together. Since its debut in 2014, NLB has seen an incredible response to this flagship festival, reaching more than 2 million participants through in-person and online programmes, installations, an interactive literary trail and Read For Books across eight editions of Read! Fest. This year, the festival takes on special significance with READ30, a commemorative edition marking NLB’s 30th anniversary.
Based on NLB’s National Reading Habits Study 2024, reading habits in Singapore remain healthy with more adults having read at least one book in the last 12 months, compared to 2018. Building on this momentum, READ30 aims to deepen the love of reading by making it accessible, enjoyable and immersive for all. To fuel a passion for reading, READ30 transforms the city into an immersive reading trail, bringing surprising and delightful literary experiences to everyday spaces. Through creative partnerships and captivating pop-up experiences, NLB invites all Singaporeans to read, learn and discover – anytime, anywhere.
-END-
About NLB
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.
For media queries, please contact:
Quah Jia Ling
Weber Shandwick, Singapore
+65 9699 0830
JQuah@webershandwick.com
Annex A - Recommended books at the Presidential Pop-up Library
Annex B - Other featured books at the Presidential Pop-up Library
Annex C - Books recommended by 30 Singaporean personalities available at Nodes