Library@Chinatown recently clinched Most Innovative Project in the MCI (Ministry of Communications and Information) Family Innovation Awards, an annual competition within the ministry that recognises innovative projects and initiatives that have created great public value.
Opened on 31 January 2013, library@Chinatown is the National Library Board’s (NLB) latest addition to the Singapore public library network. Managed and run by volunteers, the library does not simply provide book-lending services. Beyond that, it is a bold attempt to re-imagine a library’s role as a public learning space, strengthening the sense of community in Singapore.
Housed on the fourth level of the refurbished Chinatown Point, this 1,000 square metre library is Singapore’s first themed public library on Chinese arts and culture with a start-up collection of 30,000 titles in English, Chinese and a small selection of books in Malay and Tamil. It carries a thematic collection of titles on calligraphy, literature, music, painting, traditions, customs and more. There is also a small selection of books and audio-visual materials in commonly spoken Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese. Visitors can also read local and foreign online newspapers on large screens via iPads.
Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer of the National Library Board said, “We are grateful to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and CP1 Pte Ltd for their enthusiastic support for this Chinese arts and culture themed library. The theme sits well against the heritage backdrop of Chinatown. We are also touched by the dedication of our volunteers. Together with our understanding and cooperative visitors, we hope to make this self-service library a success and a much loved space for all.”
NLB has collaborated with Rediffusion to offer visitors another unique experience. They can enjoy nostalgic dialect hits, activities and talk shows on Chinese festivals, beliefs and food culture at the Rediffusion room within the library. Visitors can also look forward to a wide array of programmes such as storytelling sessions, arts appreciation workshops, music and dance workshops, musical performances and poetry reading sessions