The National Library saw many expansions to its collections and services between 1960 and 1995. In the effort to bring information to people, the library decentralised its services through provision of mobile libraries and established more branches in Community Centres and housing estates. Keeping abreast with technology, the library also embarked on a computerisation programme for an integrated system that linked all library functions.
Background
Since its establishment in 1958, the National Library has served as the country's national and public library. It provides library materials and information for all members of the public through its loan and reference services. As a national library it functions as the legal deposit library that collects and receives copies of Singapore publications as required by the Printers and Publishers Act.
Collections
The National Library had an unprecedented expansion in 1963. A five-fold increase of the book budget has considerably strengthened its total collections, especially in the non-English languages. Throughout the years, the library has also received many gifts and book donations from local as well as overseas donors.
A gift of $10,000 to the library by Datuk Lee Kong Chian was used for the purchase of books in the National Language, Chinese and Tamil. Some of the noteworthy gifts were the Ya Yin Kwan collection of Tan Yeok Seong and the Gibson-Hill collection of 1000 books presented by Loke Yew in fulfilment of the intentions of her son, the late Datuk Loke Wan Tho.
Other outstanding gifts from foreign donors would include a recorded music tape of the Chilean musician Osman Perez Freire (1880-1930) from the Chilean Embassy in 1984 and a publication entitled "China's Cultural Heritage: Rediscovering a Past of 7,000 Years", from the Vice President of the China International Book Trading Corporation in Beijing, which was donated to the library in 1995.
The total number of collection in the National Library grew from 174,000 in 1963 to over 3 million items in 1995.
Services
The library also saw growth in the use of library services. The increase in the number of staff made it possible for the library to extend its service hours and for the provision of new services.
In 1967, the mobile library service was expanded and six more centres were opened in strategic parts of the island to bring the library closer to the people. However, the mobile library services were slowly phased out over the years as more full time branche services were established. Between 1970 and 1994, six more full-time branches and 1 regional library were established.
Library services were extended when the National Library and its branches opened their doors to the public on Sundays in 1991. This was decided after an extensive six-month pilot project to gauge the public's demand for library services on Sundays, was conducted in Jurong East, Marine Parade and Toa Payoh branch libraries in 1990.
In 1993, the National Library implemented the use of the new NRIC to borrow books. In the same year, public access to the library holdings was further enhanced when the National Library launched the electronic link that allows remote users to access its online catalogue (OPAC) from homes or offices.
In keeping with new developments, a Library 2000 Committee was formed to bring National Library services to a higher level through exploitation of the revolution in technology. Some of the recommendations made by the committee were to convert National Library to a statutory board, to set up a three-tier public library system and to implement a network of borderless libraries that would link to local and overseas libraries. The Government accepted the Committee's report and National Library was converted to a statutory board in 1995.
Event highlights: 1963-1995
1963 : National Library Board published its first report covering the period from December 1960 to September 1963.
1964 : S. Rajaratnam, Minister for Culture officially opened the South East Asia Room on 28 August and presentation of the Ya Yin Kwan Collection by Tan Yeok Seong, a Penang Industrialist. Mobile Library service to community centres started.
1965 : Hedwig Anuar was appointed the first Singaporean Director of the National Library. Opening of the Business, Scientific and Technical Section of the Reference Division.
1966 : Young People's Service started. Book issues exceeded one million for the first time on December 13.
1967 : Printers and Publishers (Amendment) Act 1967 passed.
1968 : Library functions widened, following implementation of National Library (Amendment) Act.
1969 : First issue of Singapore National Bibliography published.
1970 : Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew officially opened the Queenstown Community Library on 30 April 1970.
1974 : Haji Sha'ari bin Tadin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture officially opened the Toa Payoh Community Library on 7 February 1974.
1977 : Book collection exceeded one million volumes.
1978 : Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister of State (Finance) and Member of Parliament for Marine Parade officially opened the Marine Parade Community Library on 10 November 1978.
1982 : Lim Chee Onn, then Minister-Without-Portfolio and Member of Parliament for Bukit Merah. Officially opened the Bukit Merah Community Library on 28 December 1982.
1983 : Major Fong Sip Chee, Minister of State for Culture officially opened the Arts Resource Centre (ARC) on 10 January 1983.
1985 : Yeo Toon Chai, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio Constituency officially opened the Ang Mo Kio Community Library on 17 August 1985. Professor S. Jayakumar, Minister for Home Affairs, Second Minister for Law and MP for Bedok officially opened Bedok Community Library on 28 September 1985.
1993 : Opening of the first Community Children's Library (CCL) in Bukit Panjang.
1994 : Library 2000 recommendations to achieve a world-class library were accepted by the Government. Aline Wong (Dr) MP for Tampines GRC and the then Minister of state for health and education officially opened Tampines Regional Library on 3 Decenber 94.
1995 : Inauguration of NLB as a statutory board on September 1, to spearhead Library 2000. Tampines West CCL, Eunos CCL, Nee Soon East CCL, Thomson CCL opened.
Author
Muhamad Ashif Padili
References
Seet, K. K. (1983). A place for the people. Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 027.55957 SEE)
National Library. (1963-1995). Annual Report. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 027.55957 RLSAR)
Bill to give National Library wider role. (1995, March 2). The Straits Times, p. 19.
Libraries open doors to Sunday readers. (1991, January 7). The Straits Times, p. 21.
Library board to start operations next month. (1995, August 19). The Straits Times, p. 31.
Plan to build new National Library. (1989, March 23). The Straits Times, p. 1.
Sunday Library at 3 branches. (1990, March 30). The Straits Times, p. 33.
The information in this article is valid as at 2003 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
