On This Day In 2009, Singapore’s Largest Shopping Mall Library Opens At Harbourfront
At VivoCity, you’ll find the biggest shopping mall library in the Lion City. library @ harbourfront is the only place you can chill on a cosy deck chair while soaking in sweeping views of the sea and Sentosa, and flipping through a good book.
This unique venue was officially opened on 12 Jan 2009, 15 years ago.
IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG
What’s so special about this library?
Spanning an impressive 3,000sqm (about half the size of a football field), this library’s coastal theme embraces its seaside location. Think calming blue-green tones, wave-inspired designs, and a decidedly chill vibe.
What makes library @ harbourfront so special isn’t just its size, location, or the 200,000+ books available to read. It’s thoughtfully divided into two zones:
IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG
The Tinker Truck. | IMAGE: FACEBOOK/@NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, SINGAPORE
The Adults & Teens Zone is a quiet haven for book lovers, with learning pods where you can access digital content to upgrade your skills. It’s also a volunteer-run space, with activities and workshops for the public happening all year round.
The Children’s Zone is a dedicated area for kids to explore augmented reality books, craft paper creations, and solve puzzles. The Tinker Truck (pictured above) is meant for kids aged 3 to 9 (but what's stopping the young at heart from reliving their childhood), and offers programmes related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
Take a VR tour of the library here.
From Bukit Merah to VivoCity
The library @ harbourfront replaced the Bukit Merah Public Library, which had been a community fixture since 1982.
While some Bukit Merah residents were understandably sad about the move, the National Library Board (NLB) eased the transition by setting up 12 reading corners in the area. These spots now offer 5,000 books and 250 seats, ensuring that Bukit Merah residents didn’t lose their literary connection.
libary@orchard at Orchard Gateway is one of many library malls in Singapore. | IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG
Libraries in Singapore's shopping malls
Did you know Singapore’s first shopping mall library opened way back in 1996 at Jurong Point?
Today, mall libraries are everywhere. For instance:
- Bedok Public Library located in Heartbeat@Bedok
- library@chinatown located in Chinatown Point
- Punggol Regional Library located in One Punggol
- Tampines Regional Library located in Our Tampines Hub
- Yishun Public Library located in the North Wing of Northpoint City
This was all part of the Library 2000 master plan, designed to make libraries more accessible, affordable, and faster to set up than standalone buildings.
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