30th anniversary celebrations across NLB network of libraries and archives with birthday gifts for all, including one-off waiver of fines and free Borrow-n-Deliver service
Singapore, 6 September 2025 — NLB’s 30th anniversary festivities marked the start of a new chapter for the statutory board today with island-wide celebrations across its network of libraries and archives. Organised as part of NLB’s annual Love Our Libraries and Archives (LOLA), the celebration is a signature SG60 programme, and offers something for everyone to read, learn and discover, including a one-time waiver of library fines and a limited offer of a free book delivery service.
The main event, themed “NLB30: A Celebration of Connections”, took place at the National Library Building Plaza, and was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo. About 1,400 NLB staff, alumni, volunteers, partners and patrons gathered across NLB’s libraries, National Archives and Former Ford Factory to celebrate the milestone together. This included a concurrent cake-cutting moment across Singapore, reflecting on NLB’s journey of transformation and innovation over the past three decades, and looking ahead together.
In her speech at the celebratory event, Mrs Josephine Teo unveiled several exciting initiatives to help patrons rediscover the rich resources and collections available at the libraries. These include a one-time fines waiver or complimentary Borrow-n-Deliver service for patrons.
Rediscover Reading and Learning with NLB30 Gifts!
In celebration of NLB30, NLB welcomes our patrons back to the libraries, encouraging all to rediscover and reconnect with our rich and diverse collections, resources and services. As such, NLB is offering a one-time waiver of outstanding fines for patrons who have fines incurred before 6 September 2025. This is the first time that NLB is offering such a fines waiver and is a special one-off exercise as part of NLB30. Currently, patrons with outstanding fines are unable to borrow items. From 6 September 2025 to 31 December 2025, these patrons can borrow items from NLB. By connecting with NLB through borrowing either a physical or digital item by 31 December 2025 (excluding loan renewal), the outstanding fines incurred before 6 September 2025 will be waived and patrons can regain full borrowing privileges.
For patrons with no outstanding fines incurred before 6 September 2025, NLB will be offering one complimentary order of Borrow-n-Deliver service (worth S$8.72, inclusive of GST). This will be an opportunity to enjoy the convenience of NLB’s delivery service, Borrow-n-Deliver, for free. Every week, 300 complimentary slots will be released, with a total of more than 4,000 slots available, on a first-come first-served basis until the end of the year i.e. 31 December 2025. Patrons can select up to four library items and have them delivered to their doorsteps for free. Each patron can redeem the complimentary service once. Please refer to Annex A for more details.
Strengthening connections with the libraries and archives beyond NLB30
During the celebrations today, patrons enjoyed a first look at new and upcoming innovations that were launched as part of NLB30.
This includes two special commemorative item collections launched for sale, in celebration of NLB’s 30th anniversary. The first collection is a collaboration with homegrown Singaporean brand, Triologie, known for its meaningful storytelling of local culture through design, and the second features popular characters from NLB’s well-loved Book Bugs reading programme. The commemorative items include a vintage kraft tote bag, a retro video cassette ceramic coaster set, foldable valet tray and more. Patrons can purchase these commemorative items in-person at a limited-time booth running from 6 to 29 September 2025 at the lobby of the National Library Building, or at roving pop-ups visiting various locations at our libraries and events from September onwards. Alternatively, the commemorative items can be purchased via NLB's newly-launched online store on Shopee. More details on the NLB30 Commemorative Items are in Annex C.
As part of its efforts to reimagine patrons’ connections to the libraries and archives, NLB has also worked with volunteers and partners to develop a physical card game that gives patrons the experience of crafting their own dream library1. Chapters: A Libraries and Archives Game is a nostalgic tableau building and set collection game where players can build an inviting library. Each turn, players get to build up their site with new features, inspired by NLB’s suite of offerings over the last 30 years, unlocking the ability to invite more friends to visit. The most popular library wins. Chapters will be available for redemption later this year, and interested gamers can indicate their interest via the mailing list at https://go.gov.sg/chapters-mailing-list. More details on Chapters can be found in Annex D.
NLB also launched its new publication titled “NLB’s LAB Story: Reading, Learning and Discovery”, which documents the key projects and experiments that took place behind the scenes of the LAB25 (Libraries & Archives Blueprint 2025) transformation journey, and charts the way forward. It is available on the NLB website and as an eBook on the NLB Mobile app from 6 September 2025. Key highlights of NLB’s transformation over the past 30 years can be found in Annex E.
NLB will continue to embrace LAB25’s spirit of experimentation to deliver content and services that encourage discovery. NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ng Cher Pong, said: “As we celebrate NLB30, we reflect on the role NLB has played in cultivating a nation of readers and learners over the past three decades. However, this celebration is not only to honour our past, but to also set the stage for the exciting future that will build on our LAB25 efforts. Through experimentation and partnerships, we aim to chart the next chapter of discovery for Singapore. We warmly welcome our patrons, both new and returning, to reconnect with us and rediscover our innovative programmes and services.”
Love Our Libraries and Archives Throughout September 2025
The celebrations continue throughout September with LOLA festivities. LOLA’s annual Love Letters initiative goes digital this year, with patrons expressing their heartfelt well-wishes to NLB and Singapore via Digital Love Letters. These Digital Love Letters can be submitted at all libraries (except library@chinatown), the Former Ford Factory, and National Archives of Singapore, and will be displayed across the NLB network.
As part of the Love Letters initiative, 30 staff, patrons and volunteers have also penned their love notes, sharing their stories of how NLB has been a constant partner in their work and life. Comprising 15 letters of gratitude from NLB staff to NLB’s supporters and patrons, and 15 from patrons and volunteers to the libraries and archives, the letters are accompanied by archival photos that span the rich history of Singapore’s libraries and archives. Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo also penned her love letter to NLB and it can be viewed along with the other 30 on the NLB website at https://go.gov.sg/nlb30-love-letters.
Patrons can also look forward to a month-long series of community activities that strengthen their connection with the libraries and archives, and foster their love for reading and learning. Key highlights include the tenth edition of the Big Book Giveaway taking place on 13 and 14 September 2025, where patrons can pick up pre-loved books from our libraries, and highly popular exclusive guided tours of the Library Supply Centre, which will be open to the public for the first time to take a peek behind the curtains of how a book reaches the library shelves. For more information on the LOLA programmes available, visit https://go.gov.sg/lola-programmes.
-END-
1 For ease of gameplay, “libraries” in-game refers to both libraries and archives.
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, and NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Charmaine Lee
Weber Shandwick, Singapore
Tel: +65 9869 9409
E-mail: clee5@webershandwick.com