Libraries Go Mainstream: Singapore Moves Book Havens to Malls
Standalone branches to be absorbed into commercial hubs, sparking debate about community spaces.
A familiar quietude at the Ang Mo Kio library is set to be replaced by the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall as the National Library Board (NLB) plans a significant shift in its library strategy.
Strategic Relocations Underway
The Ang Mo Kio library will relocate to the nearby AMK Hub in 2026, with its current Avenue 6 site designated for a future healthcare facility. This move is part of a broader NLB initiative to integrate libraries into shopping malls and mixed-use complexes. Similar transitions are planned for the Geylang East library, moving to Tanjong Katong Complex by 2030, and the Toa Payoh library, which will become part of a new integrated development the same year. Jurong Regional Library is also slated for a move to an integrated transport hub by 2028.
Currently, 13 of NLB’s 28 public libraries operate within malls, with others situated in integrated community hubs. Upon completion of these relocations, a select few, including the conserved Queenstown library and the Bishan library, will remain as standalone institutions.
Boosting Access and Visitorship
NLB asserts that these strategic relocations aim to enhance accessibility, aligning with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s land use plans and proximity to public transport. An NLB spokesperson stated, “By siting our libraries at convenient locations, at least 80 per cent of the resident population stays within 15 minutes (by public transport) of a public library. This allows Singapore residents to visit their favourite libraries ‘at their doorstep’,”
ensuring libraries are easily reachable for the majority of residents.
However, the shift has drawn attention, with Member of Parliament (MP) **Tin Pei Ling** appealing for a reconsideration of the Geylang East library’s move. She noted in a Facebook post that NLB cited significantly higher visitor numbers for mall-based libraries due to synergistic activities within shopping centres.
“This is because of the synergy with other activities in a shopping mall. Therefore … NLB’s strategy is to move standalone libraries to shopping malls when the opportunities come about.”
—Tin Pei Ling, MP for Marine Parade-Braddell-Heights
This strategy reflects a trend seen globally, where libraries are increasingly being co-located in vibrant urban centres to increase engagement. For instance, the new Aarhus Public Library in Denmark, designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen, is a prominent example of a modern library integrated into a city’s cultural and commercial fabric, attracting high footfall through its accessible location and varied offerings (SHL Architects).
Community Reactions
Patrons at the Ang Mo Kio library expressed mixed feelings. Retiree **Seak Teik Song**, 72, praised the current branch’s serene atmosphere. “Here is very quiet, the ambience is very good,”
he commented, contrasting it with the busier feel of mall-based libraries like the Serangoon library at Nex shopping mall. “When it goes to AMK Hub, it might not be so,”
he added, feeling that such locations “becomes like a marketplace.”
Despite nearby construction noise, the current library maintained a sense of calm for its patrons.
The future of standalone library spaces in Singapore remains a point of discussion as the NLB continues its integration strategy.
