Theme:Libraries in Singapore 

Playlist: National Library

The National Library Singapore is home to the nation’s largest public reference collection and provides trusted reference services to researchers and the general public alike. It plays an important role in collecting, preserving, and making accessible all documentary and published materials about Singapore to preserve our rich culture and heritage. The National Library also regularly organises exhibitions, programmes and publications spotlighting different collections to promote the discovery and appreciation of Singapore’s printed heritage.

Check out these resources to learn more about the history and various collections of the National Library.

Learning Package: National Library

The National Library of Singapore has a long history that can be traced back to 1837, when it was a subscription-based library located within the Singapore Free School (the precursor to Raffles Institution). Over the years, the library has had different names and has been housed in different buildings. However, it always maintained a focus on collecting and preserving publications related to Singapore and the surrounding Asian regions, even during the tumultuous war years.

The National Library, then referred as the Raffles National Library, only became a free library for the public in 1958. By 1960, it became officially known as the National Library of Singapore. Thereafter, it served as the country’s national and public library. It was also designated as the depository for all publications published in Singapore and provided loan and reference services to members of the public, from young to old. Today, the National Library continues to preserve our cultural heritage while evolving to support the needs of the nation and its people.

Did you know...

During the height of Konfrontasi in 1965, the National Library received a bomb threat. Fortunately, the threat turned out to be a hoax.

This curated set of articles and books will help you understand more about the history of the National Library and the unique role it plays in Singapore’s national library network.

Articles

Collecting the Scattered Remains: The Raffles Library and Museum by Gracie Lee

This article charts the early history of the National Library, from its beginnings as a school library in 1837, to its evolution into the National Library at Stamford Road in 1960. In doing so, the article also tracks the development, movement, and eventual homes of the library’s early collections.

Source: Gracie Lee. (2016). “Collecting the Scattered Remains: The Raffles Library and Museum."BiblioAsia, 12 (1) (Apr-Jun 2016). Retrieved 2025, March 5.

National Library (1960-1979) by Goh Lee Kim

This article describes how the first two decades of the National Library at Stamford Road was characterised by an expansion of its collections and diversification of its services. During this period, library membership also grew exponentially, which led to the beginnings of decentralising library services through mobile libraries and branch libraries in residential estates.

Source: Goh Lee Kim. (2020). “National Library (1960-1979)." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, March 5.

National Library (1980–1995) by Goh Lee Kim

This article charts the National Library’s key developments from 1980 to 1995. This includes the expansion of genre offerings to cater to the increasingly diverse reading interests of Singaporeans, and the start of the library’s computerisation phase to keep up with new information technology innovations. 1995 was a landmark year as the National Library Board was formed. It would oversee the National Reference Library, a network of public libraries, and the legal deposit function.

Source: Goh Lee Kim. (2020). “National Library (1980–1995).."Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, March 5. 

Books

A Place for the People

Seet, K. K. (1983). A Place for the People. Singapore: Times Books International. (Call no.: RSING 027.55957 SEE)

This book provides a chronological history of Singapore’s National Library, from its early trials and tribulations to the increasingly significant role the national library system had in community development in the 1970s and 1980s. It also highlights the key personalities who contributed to the library’s growth and development.

Moments in Time: Memories of the National Library

National Library Board. (2004). Moments in Time: Memories of the National Library. Singapore: National Library Board. (Call no.: RSING 027.5095957 MOM)

The National Library at Stamford Road was closed on 1 April 2004 to prepare for the building’s demolition. Ahead of the library’s closure, the library collected contributions from the public and staff to share their fondest memories of the library. This book is a collection of these personal anecdotes, ranging from stories of first dates to dealing with bomb threats.

Knowledge, Imagination, Possibility: Singapore's Transformative Library

Seet, K. K. (2005). Knowledge, Imagination, Possibility: Singapore's Transformative Library. Singapore: Published for National Library Board, Singapore by SNP Editions. (Call no.: RSING q027.55957 SEE)

This commemorative book explores the various ways Singapore’s library network has evolved throughout its history in response to national priorities and the people’s needs. It charts the library’s development of collections and the innovative services and programmes it has introduced over the decades.

eBook

Stories from The Stacks

National Library Board. (2020). Stories from The Stacks. Singapore: National Library Board.

The Rare Materials Collection at the National Library contains more than 11,000 items and spans six centuries of history. This book presents a diverse selection of almost 50 of the rarest items in the collection, each accompanied by an essay to shed insight on their significance in Singapore's history.

Borrow the eBook here.

Retrieved from OverDrive (a myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).

Playlist: Public Libraries

Singapore’s public libraries are lending libraries with a vast selection of books and audiovisual materials, as well as spaces for a multitude of programmes and activities. Each public library is unique, with its own distinct design, collections, and programmes tailored to the specific needs and interests of its local community. Through a comprehensive islandwide network, the public libraries actively promote reading and learning among Singaporeans.

Check out these resources to learn more about what Singapore’s public libraries offer.

Learning Package: Public Libraries

To bring library services closer to the public in rural areas, the Raffles Library (renamed the National Library in 1960) established part-time branch libraries in the 1950s and launched mobile library services in 1960.

As part of its plan to decentralise library services, the National Library began opening full-time branch libraries and closing part-time branches in the 1970s and 1980s. Initially referred to as “Branch Libraries”, these full-time branches were renamed “Community Libraries” in 1995 and then “Public Libraries” in 2008. Mobile library services, which were halted in 1991, made a comeback in 2008 with a new, endearing name, MOLLY.

Today, public libraries have evolved far beyond their early role as satellite branches of the National Library, serving local communities with a wide range of collections and programmes.

Did you know...

The Queenstown Public Library was the first full-time branch library, officially opened by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 30 April 1970. In 2013, the library building was gazetted for conservation as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s 2014 Master Plan.

This curated set of articles and books will help you understand more about the public libraries in Singapore.

Articles

Singapore Public Libraries: Past, Present and Future by Francisca Cardoza

This article traces the evolution of Singapore’s public library system, from a single library in the 1800s to a network spanning the island today. It highlights key initiatives, such as the Early Literacy Library, kidsREAD, and the mobile library MOLLY, offered by public libraries to cater to the needs of various user groups.

Source: Francisca Cardoza. (2013). “Singapore Public Libraries: Past, Present and Future."BiblioAsia 8(2) (Jul-Sep 2013). Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, April 4.

Part-Time Branch Libraries by Goh Lee Kim

This article explores the origins of part-time branch libraries, introduced by the Raffles Library between 1953 and 1987 to bring library services closer to the public in the suburban areas. A total of eight part-time branches were established, typically operating in the afternoons and evenings. The article also covers the unique features of each library and their eventual closure in the 1970s and 1980s.

Source: Goh Lee Kim. (2018). “Part-Time Branch Libraries." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, April 4.

Community Libraries by Heng Wong and Naidu Ratnala Thulaja

This article discusses the early standalone and shopping mall public libraries in Singapore, which were known as “Community Libraries” before their renaming in 2008. Besides the official opening dates, it offers an overview of these libraries’ services during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Source: Heng Wong and Naidu Ratnala Thulaja. (1999). “Community Libraries." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, April 4.

Molly, the Mobile Library by Nur Diyana Mohd Yusoff

This article chronicles the beginnings of NLB’s Mobile Library, affectionately known as MOLLY. The service was first launched in 1960 to make the library’s collection more accessible to residents in rural areas and was discontinued in 1991. It was relaunched in 2008, underwent several vehicle upgrades, introduced two additional compact mobile libraries, and continues to operate today.

Source: Nur Diyana Mohd Yusoff. (2014). “Molly, the Mobile Library." Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, April 4.

Books

The Remaking of Singapore’s Public Libraries

Hong Xinyi. (2019). The Remaking of Singapore’s Public Libraries. Singapore: National Library Board. (Call no.: RSING 027.45957 HON-[LIB])

Using eight libraries as case studies, this book delves into the transformation of Singapore’s public libraries through innovative strategies that adapt to community needs.

The People's Library: 50 Years of National and Public Library Services

National Library Board. (2007). The People's Library: 50 Years of National and Public Library ServicesSingapore: National Library Board. (Call no.: RSING 027.55957 SIN-[LIB])

Beyond the story of the National Library, this book charts the growth of Singapore’s public library system, from the rapid expansion of part-time branch and mobile libraries since the 1950s to key milestones such as the 1970 opening of the first full-time branch library. It also highlights the public libraries’ diverse offerings that serve all ages and complement the National Library’s services.

MOLLY's Memories, Milestones and Moments: Celebrating Mobile Library Services in Singapore

Jasna Dhansukhlal and Oxygen Studio Designs, eds. (2009). MOLLY's Memories, Milestones and Moments: Celebrating Mobile Library Services in Singapore. Singapore: National Library Board. (Call no.: RSING 027.45957 MOL-[LIB])

This booklet commemorates the first year of service of MOLLY, the affectionate name given to the National Library Board’s mobile library when it was re-launched in 2008. Through photographs of the mobile libraries from 1960 to 1991, heartwarming stories from users, and images of MOLLY in action, readers are offered a nostalgic glimpse into the transformation of mobile library services in Singapore.