National Library Singapore, National library in Bugis, Singapore
The National Library Singapore is a modern sixteen-story building with extensive reading areas and study spaces spread across multiple levels. The facility offers comprehensive collections, digital resources, and specialized rooms designed for different kinds of research and learning.
The library was established in 2005 and inherited major collections from the earlier Raffles Library, which dates back to colonial times. These historical holdings continue to form the foundation of the institution's collections today.
The library reflects Singapore's diverse society through collections that tell stories from multiple cultures and periods. Visitors can see how different traditions and languages come alive in the holdings across the floors.
The building is easily accessible and offers visitors daily access with self-service kiosks and various facilities throughout the space. Visitors should allow time to explore since there is much to discover across multiple floors and navigating the scale of the building requires some planning.
Inside, a memorial wall contains 5000 bricks from the previous building on Stamford Road, preserving the place's history in tangible form. These stones create a physical connection between the past and the new modern structure.
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