library@chinatown – NLB’s first community supported library

library@chinatown will be NLB’s first library, powered by the community, for the community,

namely:

• Through Philanthropy & Sponsorships,

– Chinatown Point Mall owner, CP1 Pte Ltd sponsored the development cost of the

library (including IT infrastructure & start-up collection).

– Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple will sponsor over 5 years towards funding the

library’s annual operating costs (excluding manpower), as well as collection and

programmes’ development.

• Through Partnerships & Engagement

– In collaboration with Rediffusion, a programme facility has been set up within the

library to offer library patrons with free access to Rediffusion programmes (retro

and new ones). The facility will also become a dedicated programme area where

library patrons can participate in regular Rediffusion–led engagement activities.

– Daily library operations will be driven by a pool of trained volunteers, who are drawn

from the community.

Focus on Chinese Arts and Culture

As NLB’s first themed library on Chinese arts and culture, library@chinatown will offer a curated

collection that will cater to both arts and cultural enthusiasts and the general public, who are keen in

learning more about Chinese arts and culture. The collection will also be complemented with

reading and engagement programmes. The target audience of our programmes are students,

teachers, seniors and families.

• Collection & Services:

The library will feature a start-up collection size of 30,000 items (Books & Audio Visual

materials) on Chinese arts and culture, which has been curated, in consultation with

representatives from the Chinese literati community. About 15% of the total collection will

cater to children. About 30% of the total collection will be in English, close to 65% in Chinese

and the remaining in Malay, Tamil, and Chinese dialects (e.g. library materials which cover

speaking dialects, opera and folk songs). Key categories of the collection mix include

Philosophy, Language, Cookery, Health, Sports & Recreation, Literature, History and Travel.

• Public Programmes:

The library will work with various communities and interest groups to develop a variety of

programmes and/or to co-organise exhibitions in the library. These programmes would align

with the theme of the library to cultivate greater understanding of Chinese culture, and

develop an appreciation for our multi-cultural society, amongst Singaporeans. Some

examples of the upcoming programmes include workshops and talks on Couplet Writing,

‘Lantern Riddles’, the Evolution of Chinese Characters, Chinese Painting, Weiqi, Opera

Performance, and History of Local Straits Chinese.

Services at library@chinatown

• Lending of books and periodicals/magazines, with about 60% of them in the Chinese

language, close to 40% in English with some titles in Malay and Tamil.

• Lending of Audio-visual materials such as DVDs and Audio CDs.

• Newspaper reading – both print and electronic versions using iPads

• Bookdrop (RFID-enabled)

• On-line Public Access Catalogues (OPAC)

• Self-check borrowing stations (RFID-enabled)

• Library e-kiosks

The library is integrated with NLB’s Library system which enables books borrowed from this library

to be returned at any of the 24 public libraries and vice versa.

However, due to its small collection, materials at library@chinatown are not be available for

reservation. Readers who wish to access this collection would have to make a trip to visit this new

library and borrow the library materials for their reading and research.

The library does not have a staff counter and is not a pick up point for reservations from other public

libraries.

First Volunteer Run Library

This library is run by volunteers. They move around the library wearing a special library@chinatown

volunteer T-shirt. The volunteers’ duties focus on the clearance of books from the bookdrop and

shelving them back. Library visitors can use the Cybrarian Kiosk to speak to a library staff at a remote

site for their enquiries.

Members of the public who are interested to volunteer at library@chinatown can sign up at NLB’s

Friends of the Library Portal (https://vms.nlb.gov.sg)

Library Entrance

Reading Area

Programme Zone

Children’s Section