Eight selected public libraries to open earlier from Oct 5

SINGAPORE – If you are both an early bird and a bookworm, luck is on your side.

From Oct 5, eight selected public libraries across Singapore will open earlier at 9am – an hour or two before their usual opening times – the National Library Board (NLB) said in a Facebook post on Oct 2.

Four public libraries – Bukit Panjang, Sembawang, Serangoon and Pasir Ris – are slated to open two hours earlier, instead of at 11am. These libraries are located within shopping malls.

Four other libraries – Bishan, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands – will open one hour earlier, instead of at 10am.

During the extended morning hours, patrons can access library collections, borrow items via the NLB app or on-site borrowing stations, and use catalogue stations, multimedia stations, the programme zone and the seat booking service, NLB said in an Oct 5 media reply.

The move provides patrons with greater convenience and accessibility to library services, NLB added.

Staff-assisted services will be available only when the libraries officially open at 10am or 11am, NLB said in its Facebook post.

With the latest move, about half of the libraries in NLB’s network will feature extended hours in the morning, with three of them – Harbourfront, Yishun and Clementi – already opening at 9am, according to NLB.

To enter any of these libraries during the early-access window, patrons may scan an accepted physical identity card or eCard on the NLB app at the gantries during extended hours.

Physical cards include library membership card, NRIC, FIN card, School Smart Card, SAF 11B, PAssion Card, Workfare Transport Concession Card, Pioneer Generation Card and Singapore driving licence, NLB said.

Those without these cards can generate a day pass to enter the library, NLB added.

Children should use their own physical identity document or eCard to enter the library where available, said NLB.

Alternatively, parents may scan their own identity card or eCard for their child to enter, added NLB. Parents are encouraged to let their child walk ahead and enter the library first.

Libraries here typically open till 9pm daily. There are currently 23 libraries that are open across the island, according to the NLB website, including the Central Arts Library at the National Library Building in Victoria Street.

NLB said on Oct 5 that it is progressively rolling out this early access initiative across its libraries “where operationally feasible”.

Factors to be considered include patron demand, operational sustainability and mall opening hours, for libraries located within shopping centres.

NLB said: “We will continue to gather patrons’ feedback on the implementation of the morning extended hours, as we explore ways to deliver a seamless overall library experience.”