Step into the National Library of Singapore and you will forget that this is in fact located in a country that is blessed with minimal land area. Book shelves spread from wall to wall, adorned by texts of all colours and proportions offering a plethora of knowledge and entertainment. There is an unending line of tables which are almost always occupied by a train of knowledge hungry people and the library staff are both well read and helpful.
There are printed material as well as electronic databases that assist professionals, students and aestheticians alike. Anyone who wants to by heart religious scripts, traverse through the universe, romance with fiction or explore the wildlife is assured of finding sufficient reading matter in several languages including Chinese, English, Tamil and Malay. Newspapers, magazines, periodicals and journals along with annals that have been collected by the librarians who have held office since 1923 are available for reference.
This library which is a combination of the Reference Library and the Public Library opened doors to the public in July 2005, when the former Public Library ceased to operate. The sixteen storied building with sky bridges, beautifully landscaped gardens and ample parking attracts people of all ages and walks of life from both Singapore and overseas.
The quiet and stillness are not broken by the hustle and bustle of Victoria Street, where the library is situated in the Civic District of Singapore. There is plenty of greenery and fresh air surrounding the magnificent structure adding to the much desired serenity.
For a tourist paying a visit to the National Library of Singapore does not merely entail flipping through manuscripts or analyzing Singaporean history, it also involves theatrics at the Drama Centre, delicious and aromatic coffee at the Café and an inimitable view of the tiny islands that lie along the coast of Singapore from the viewing point referred to as the Pod.
Since most of the high flying Singapore hotels are just around the corner from the book haven, dropping in for a short stint on a Sunday afternoon should be a must do. The Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Singapore which is a haven in its own right stands out from other hotels in Singapore as a comfortable abode for the discerning traveler.
