Woodlands Regional Library (WRL) was officially opened on 28 April 2001.1 It is the first full-fledged regional library under the National Library Board (NLB).2
History
In 1992, the government set up the Library 2000 Review Committee to study public library services in Singapore. One of the recommendations by the committee was to restructure the public libraries into a three-tier library system consisting of regional libraries, community libraries and neighbourhood libraries.3 In 1995, the government announced that, following the prototype regional library in Tampines, it would build a second regional library in Woodlands New Town.4 The library was completed at a cost of S$60 million and officially opened on 28 April 2001 by Tony Tan, then deputy prime minister, minister for defence and member of Parliament for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency.5 The library opened with a collection of 420,000 books6 and registered a record of 100,000 visitors on its first day.7
Description
WRL occupies a total floor space of 11,100 sq m,8 twice the size of Tampines Regional Library.9 The four-storey library is located within the Woodlands Civics Centre, with a split-level basement that houses a 250-seat auditorium. On level one, there are magazines, newspapers and audiovisual materials, a café, a stage for performances, and an atrium with a waterwall feature. Levels two and three house the reference section and the general lending section respectively. Level four, which has a lower ceiling than the other floors, is the young adult and children’s sections.10 To promote awareness and appreciation of local art, the library also features ceramic murals and paintings by local artists.11
Special features and facilities
WRL offers services and facilities such as multimedia stations, a quiet reading room, as well as project and meeting rooms.12 The library is located in close proximity to three nature reserves: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sungei Khatib Bongsu and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. To reflect the lush greenery surrounding it, WRL has adopted the theme of nature and the environment. In line with this, the children’s section has been designed as a park, with several interesting visual features to create environmental awareness.13
Another feature of WRL is its focus on children. The children’s Reading Park is specially designed to provide a conducive environment for reading and to stimulate creativity and innovation. The Reading Park comprises four zones. The “World of Stories” is a parent-child reading corner to encourage bonding between parents and their children by reading together. The “World of Language” houses books in Chinese, Malay and Tamil with thematic displays that promotes the vernacular languages. The “World of Creativity” showcases children’s artworks and other creative projects and the “World of Learning” houses the information books and the fairytale collections.14 A notable collection highlight is the Asian Children’s Literature Collection that was launched in 2012. This collection comprises 8,000 children’s books that reflect Asian culture and heritage.15
Author
Ong Eng Chuan
References
1. National Library Board. (2002). Annual report 2001/2002. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/Reports/fy01/home.htm
2. National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, July 26 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
3. What Library 2000 is about. (1996, January 29). The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Yeo, G. (1995, March 30). Libraries of the future to develop along twin tracks. The Straits Times, p. 28. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
7. Ngian, L. C. (2002). Country report: Singapore 2001/2002. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from IFLA website: http://www.ifla.org/archive/VII/s8/annual/cr0102-sg.htm
8. National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
9. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2016, March 10). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/VisitUs/BranchDetails/tabid/140/bid/310/Default.aspx?branch=Woodlands+Regional+Library
11. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
12. National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
13. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
14. Ong, S. F. (2001, April 29). Out of the Woodlands. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, June 3 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
15. National Library Board. (2015, July 22). Woodlands Regional Library. Retrieved 2016, July 26 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Woodlands%20Regional%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%2020150723.pdf
The information in this article is valid as at 2016 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.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
The Singapore Library, which grew out of the Singapore Institution Library, was established on 22 January 1845 as a library for the residents of Singapore. Initially occupying the north wing of the Singapore Institution (later renamed Raffles Institution), it was the first public library in Singapore. The library was a...
Xmi Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based small and medium-size enterprise (SME) that specialises in the production of portable speakers, with a focus on audio technology innovation. Founded in 2006, Xmi is the first in the market to produce and retail a pocket-size speaker. Its products are now sold in more...
A Certificate of Entitlement (COE) in Singapore represents the right to vehicle ownership in Singapore for a period of 10 years. COEs are integral to the Vehicle Quota System (VQS), a landmark scheme implemented to regulate the growth of the vehicle population in Singapore, which is among the densest in...
The Raffles Library and Museum building at Stamford Road was officially opened on 12 October 1887. During its initial years, the library occupied the right wing on the ground floor of the building, while the museum occupied the first floor. The library and museum were administered as a single entity...
Trek 2000 International Limited is the Singaporean company that created the ThumbDrive, a thumb-sized universal serial bus (USB) data storage device which revolutionised the way digital data is stored and transferred in personal computers. Headquartered in Singapore’s Loyang Industrial Estate, the public listed company has offices in many parts of...
Pasir Ris Public Library, located on the fourth floor of White Sands Shopping Centre in Pasir Ris, officially opened on 6 October 2000. It is the National Library Board’s (NLB) eighth library to be located in a shopping mall and its 18th public library. This library serves residents living in...
Based on the popular Japanese feline icon Hello Kitty, fast-food chain McDonald’s began a 40-day Wedding Design Hello Kitty toy promotion with its Extra Value Mealson 1 January 2000. The promotion is remembered for sparking a queuing frenzy by thousands of people, and igniting a public debate on the suitability...
The Raffles Library and Museum was taken over by the Japanese and renamed Syonan Hakubutsu Kan during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore from 15 February 1942 to 12 September 1945. Vulcanologist and geologist, Professor Hidezo Tanakadate headed the institution from February 1942 to September 1942, followed by Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa,...
Choa Chu Kang Public Library is located in Lot One Shoppers’ Mall in Choa Chu Kang. Opened on 22 February 1997, it is the second library under the National Library Board to be housed in a shopping centre. It serves residents in Choa Chu Kang, Yew Tee, Teck Whye, Hong...
Surviving the Sky, Singapore’s and Asia’s first reality challenge on a cable car, took place from 16-23 March 2004. The event was held in conjunction with Singapore Cable Car’s (SCC) 30th anniversary. Participants had to endure living in a cable car for a total of seven days. The winning team...