Central Library

Came purely for the kids section of the library and it sure lived up to our expectations. The little one thoroughly enjoyed himself amidst the aquarium themed library and the endless literature around the area. Very thoughtfully, they also offer floor cushions where you can take and just find a spot to read and chill out on. The hit area with the deck chairs is the central of the kids section but was unfortunately pretty much always filled with people. Great place to spend the weekend letting the kids immerse themselves. Parking is also pretty reasonable at $1.20 per hour on Sundays.

Today, I attended Emma Memma's Performance at Drama Centre. I grew up watching Sesame Street and Hi-5, and of course, The Wiggles. So when I learned that Emma Memma, formerly of The Wiggles, was performing, I was really excited. What I find especially meaningful is the way Emma Memma and Elvin Melvin connects through sign language. For that, kudos to them. Some children can only sing and communicate through sign language — yet they’re often overlooked in theatre shows. That’s why Emma Memma’s performances stand out: she reminds us that inclusion matters, and every child deserves to shine. (Catch her in action on youtube.) Drop by our libraries or check out the NLB online portal and mobile app! You’ll find a huge variety of e-books, e-magazines, audiobooks, and lots of other exciting features. Truly one of the best resources you can enjoy in Singapore 🙂 Have you seen the sky-bridged library, on the upper floors, rising 16 storeys high? Designed with floor-to-ceiling glass panels, it welcomes natural light into every corner, creating a warm, open atmosphere. Look out for the greenery that softens the sleek architecture, blending nature with structure to offer a calming, inviting space.

Perhaps the largest public library in Singapore. Hard to find a librarian for assistance, and bookings for seats are required if you do not want to be asked to leave just because someone has booked the seats. A really stupid concept for those who would casually come into the library if they are in the area. Throughout the years, NLB has done nothing to enhance the library experience. What the public has been slapped with are rules and regulations which makes visiting the library a chore.

The revamped Central Public Library reopened on Friday (Jan 12), with an array of new features that incorporate Singapore stories on culture, heritage, and literature. The library was officially reopened by Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo on Friday. Among the new facilities are a marine biodiversity learning space for children and a generative artificial intelligence (AI) storytelling wall. Located in the basement of the National Library building on Victoria Street, Central Public Library was closed in June 2022 for the revamp. This was the library's first full-fledged revamp since it first opened its doors in 2005, said the National Library Board (NLB).

Modern library. Free to visit even for tourists. Most visitors go to B1. Level 10 has an ongoing exhibition entitled “Untold Stories”. It shared how four Singaporean artists travelled to Bali, and returned to open some exhibitions inspired from their tour.

The Central Public Library in Singapore is a vibrant space blending innovation, design, and functionality. Located at the National Library Building, it offers an extensive collection of books, digital resources, and themed spaces catering to all age groups. Highlights include the eco-friendly My Tree House, the world’s first green library for children, and its lush ambiance. The library’s modern facilities, cozy reading nooks, and seamless technology make it an ideal place for study or leisure. Regular workshops and events add to its community spirit. A hub of knowledge and creativity, it’s a must-visit for book lovers and lifelong learners.

The ocean-themed library is located in the Central Public Library, which has a total of eleven floors. The children’s section is designed to resemble an aquarium. The library also offers content related to Singapore’s culture, literature, and sustainability. In addition to books, there are fun games to play. Here also can rent room for piano or studio as well. Free admission.

Possibly of my favourite libraries in the world. It’s not the quietest because of its open plan concept, but it has a nice and wide selection of books and it’s easy to borrow and reserve. There are comfortable chairs for reading and good, bright desks with electrical sockets for studying. I love that the study desks are arranged to face some greenery, and I think the Children’s Biodiversity Library section is super cute and an engaging way for kids to learn about the world around them. They also have programme rooms and sometimes installations that people can wander into and spend time in. The only thing is I wish they had lockers to leave your items safely outside.

If you're a tourist who wants to learn about Singapore but can't function well under the extreme heat and humidity, then this marvelous institution, with its rich collections of books and exhibits, plus super cool air conditioning, is the place for you! It's a huge, 16-story building near the marina and right at the Bugis MRT station. Book lovers can spend days here but I found the 11th and the 8th floors to be most interesting for tourists who want to learn a few things about this country. There are books about the history, people, places, culture, social issues.... Many current magazines as well. Gorgeous city views from many spots inside the building. The reading rooms are spacious, quiet, and nicely air-conditioned. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There are often some special exhibits or talks/lectures and activities. The Mapping the World exhibit I visited was out of this world! See photos for some of the highlights. And the best thing is, you don't need to spend even a penny! It's completely free. Lastly, if you're a Singaporean, you have no reason not to frequent this wonderful facility!! Ok

There are a lot of little exhibits scattered throughout this huge library. This was a really nice, quiet place to study. Most of the tables were occupied or reserved, but we still found room to set up. The tables have a lot of outlets. I didn't like how you have to download the wifi app before going to the library instead of being able to access it there.

Probably the nicest library I have been to. It has like 17 stories, although some of the top floors are not accessible. Anyone can walk in and do their work but you need to register with your passport online to use the Internet (if you are a tourist). My laptop wifi was not working for some reason. It has very wide study areas and everyone is super quiet. There are about 4 outlets on each table and you can usually find one no problem. The bathrooms here are very clean and there is a worker cleaning like every 10 minutes. About 10 minutes from suntec mall uniqlo area.

Too broke to buy a book? What better place to satisfy your reading cravings than the National Library? 14 floors filled with books (and empty tables and chairs for the young and old to read or study at), books and MORE books! Oh, and a cafe, theater and private university. The main NLB has one of the largest book collections in Singapore. The only complain I have against it is that out of 14 stories, you can only borrow books from the basement. Yes, you've heard me right, you can only borrow books from ONE level. The rest are just for reference. Which is pretty sad because I used to go there a lot while writing my essays and it's quite troublesome to keep running back just so you can refer to the books. However, the basement has quite a fair bit of books to borrow back. They have an awesome comics collection and fiction section. I borrowed most of my Anita Blake books from there. Also, their new books section are quite well updated. It's also an excellent place to kill time while waiting for friends who are late in meeting you. They also hold historical exhibitions and do pretty cute things like a balloon dragon to encourage kids to read.

Amazing place has a wide collection of all kinds of books very peaceful and best place to gain knowledge

This may sound nerdy, but the National Library on Victoria Street is one of my favourite places in Singapore. They have a wonderful gargantuan collection of reference books, and NLB has gone out of their way to make the research process simple and painless. For starters, they have an online catalogue that allows you to search their entire collection, meaning that you can prepare your list of references before heading to the premises. In addition, the librarians are very familiar with the sections they handle, and they are usually able to provide invaluable advice. My only gripe, however, lies in the fact that the photocopying and microfilm printing facilities are excessively priced. It used to be a couple of cents cheaper for each page, which makes a huge difference when you're printing 50-100 pages. Nevertheless, this is truly a fantastic place to explore knowledge and books. The high ceilings and comfortable reading/study areas on each floor are a huge plus, too.

If there is anything I love about Singapore it is its library system and at the hub of all that activity is The National Library along Victoria Street. When I first moved to Singapore in 2008 this library became my working space for an entire month that year while I was cruising between jobs. I read (obviously) that if you're on a break between jobs it's best to be spending that time wisely. So I thought "dust off the books!!!" and headed to the library every day until I got offered a new job. What I particularly love about this place is it has EVERYTHING. Well almost. I hardly searched for a book that wasn't in it. Yes, even the newer published ones. It still continues to amaze me to this day. I am a big bookcat, if you can tell. P.S. I am on a mission to change 'bookworm' to 'bookcat'. Who wants to be likened to a creepy crawly? Everyone loves cats and people who love books are just as adorable. Right? Right. :D The National Library is massive without feeling like you're going inside Gringotts (Harry Potter fans, I'm looking at you). I love that it has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light. They keep the working tables near the windows and all the bookshelves in the middle. A good compromise so it doesn't feel stuffy and people working have a semblance of "life" outside even though they mostly spend it indoors. As a bibiliophile, I clearly gravitate towards the National Library but don't forget your neighborhood ones. They're just as great and if you find a book you like that's in another library location? You can get it delivered to one near you for a small fee (the cost of a one-way train ride) and be on your merry way.

One of the places that puts a smile on my face as you see taxpayer dollars at work. The library is an ocean of knowledge and perhaps one part overlooked by the other reviewers is the nlb.gov.sg website. Access to the website allows you to read statistics, data and university journals. Bloomberg is avail for rent too! Creepy people- not many!

What can I say, its a beautiful building, and so much more than just a library! I came here a couple of nights ago to get some studying done, have some tea and see a play by NUS students all in the same convenient location. The library is great! There's study space on the basement floor, and its a great way to be super productive because there is no wi-fi (no facebook or yelp to distract oneself) and its also quite cold, I would say too cold to fall asleep. I can't really comment on the research materials or the books themselves since I didn't check them out at all, but I'm sure they are top-notch! There's this great little cafe on the 3rd floor, called Makarios. The chicken pie was good, but a bit pricey for what it was, small and nothing amazing in terms of taste. However, I can understand why there would be a price markup as this cafe is right by the box office for the various performance spaces that make up floors 3-6 of the building. What was really my favorite part was the pomegranate blackberry iced tea by Tea Forte. It was incredibly good non-caffeinated fruit tea served in this awesome little iced-tea maker. The service was also great, this awesome aunty who really wanted us to post all of the pictures we were taking on their facebook page :) She was adorbs! So yes, my first trip to National Library was a success! If you're in the area in the evening time with some time to kill, I reccommend checking out one of the upper floors for a nice view (why not, its free!) and potentially getting in on that awesome tea (sadly not free, about $15 for a pot, serves 3-4 people.)

What a great resource and gem in the middle of a busy city! I was VERY impressed with the National Library - it's a beautiful building and even has a little garden terrace on the 10th floor to get a view of Bugis and beyond. They have performance space on some of the floors and we stumbled upon a musical that was about to debut in 10 mins. We walked in, bought tickets randomly and watched "The Last Five Years" Singapore-style. It was a nice little production by a group called Yellow Chair Productions and the female lead (Ethel Yap) was phenomenal. She has the voice of an angel, haha I can't believe I just said that. Anyways, we checked out the basement and I asked about checking out books. Apparently you have to sign up for membership at around $53 per year only payable by NETS. I don't have NETS so I couldn't sign up and was surprised there was even a fee. Perhaps it's for non-residents (I'm only on EP here). Anyhoo, the library is a great place to unwind and read a few books or just chill and enjoy their free wifi.

Great place to chill out in the middle of town, stop by here to read a book. I think their selection of books is really one of the widest amongst all the libraries in Singapore (and that's saying a lot because I have visited quite a number of the bigger regional libraries) with more variety than your average neighbourhood one. Do note that borrowing is only from the basement level, the rest are reference books The Pod on the topmost floor is a great event space that gives a 360-degree view of Singapore, and you get a really gorgeous view at night. Unfortunately it's an event-only venue and normal visitors don't get to go in.

This may sound horrible but I much prefer this library to the one in Woodlands because there are fewer kids here. There is only this much screaming I can tolerate and the Woodlands branch always pushes me over the edge. Also, this branch has REALLY GOOD books - I think you can safely say that they have the best selection. You can spend the whole afternoon just browsing through the collections - art, architecture, design, history, philosophy etc. Great place to start your research for a paper/thesis or to just get some inspiration in general. The only problem is that a lot of the books are for reference so just remember to put away some time to get the information you need on the spot.

Every time I take a look at this modernized, structured and tall library building, I can't help but to remember the goodness of the brick-red old National Library that was unfortunately torn down... But I guess it's all for the better! With newer facilities, the National Library is definitely better equipped than before, with a lot more capacity for books and references. Every time I come here to do an essay or a project, I am always pleasantly surprised by the wide collection of books, journals, magazines, references etc. it has. Even for the fiction collection, you would be able to find what you usually cannot find at the community libraries. It can get a little crowded when it's nearing the big examinations. But since most of the users of the library are rather considerate, it wouldn't be that big a problem after all. I like also that they have many activities planned out for people to participate, which makes this more than just a library. Do check out the calendar of events/activities so that you could make time to drop by if you are shopping nearby!

I tend to spend quite a bit of time in Arab Street & City Hall and pass by the National Library quite a bit. From the design, to the many floors and facilities, it's quite the place to go if you need a book or just somewhere cool to escape the heat. What I Love: The location! It's really all about location, location, location! It's nice that the National Library's in the middle of City Hall - and near all the nice cafes, restaurants, and shops. Each floor has its own function, which is easy to navigate. Whenever I need to go on a holiday and need a travel guide book, I usually come here to borrow Travel Guides. They've got quite an extensive collection and display. There are Cafes outside - so you can chill and read. What I Don't Love: Absolutely nothing! It's a great place to hang out with friends and family! Good for kids too!