Geylang East Community Library (known as Geylang East Public Library from 2008)1 was the seventh branch library opened by the National Library Board (NLB). This standalone library was officially unveiled on 26 July 1988.2
History
Funds for the Geylang East library were approved by the Treasury in 19853 and piling work began in 1986.4 The S$4.5-million branch library was completed on 1 December 1987.5
At the time of its opening in July 1988, it was a fully computerised library with a collection of 100,000 publications. The library was intended to serve the residents from Geylang East and West, MacPherson, Paya Lebar, Aljunied, Geylang Serai, Kallang, Jalan Besar and Kampong Ubi.6
The Geylang East Library was closed to the public from 18 March 2002 until 28 April 2002 for the installation of the new Electronic Library Management System.7 This system works with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, which allows books to be cancelled immediately as they are returned through automated bookdrop and the loan records of the patrons are updated instantly.8
Description
The three-storey library has a floor area of 3,817 sq m. As at December 2013, the library’s collection comprises 243,438 items, with the largest proportion coming from English children’s books. Geylang East Library is also the first public library in Singapore to have a special thematic collection on cookery and food-related literature.9 In the financial year ending March 2011, Geylang East Public Library served more than 1,069,713 visitors and registered 1,082,498 library loans.10
The first level of the library is the children’s section with a parenting collection and a storytelling room.11 Volunteers conduct storytelling sessions regularly at the library.12 The second floor houses the adult and young people’s sections. It contains multimedia services, audiovisual materials and a newspapers and magazines collection. Level three of the library has an exhibition hall, meeting rooms and a 200-seat auditorium.13
In 2012, the library underwent a renovation but was still open to the public. In line with the lush greenery around the Geylang East Library, which is located near the Aljunied MRT station, NLB brought in potted plants and trees indoors to bring nature closer to their readers.14 To complement this new nature theme, a lounge space was created at the adult section, while new reading tables that are sloped at an angle for better reading of newspapers were also installed.15
Special features
On 12 July 2013, the Sony eReader loan service was launched at the Geylang East Public Library. It is among four libraries in Singapore equipped with this loan service. The 400 eReaders were donated by the Embassy of the United States, Singapore.16 Readers can borrow the eReaders to read eBooks from the libraries for a period of three weeks.17
On 30 May 2014, Geylang East Public Library joined Jurong Regional Library and Toa Payoh Public Library to become a host of smart work centres. These three library-located smart work centres are aimed at allowing residents to work nearer their homes, thus promoting work–life balance and productivity. The centres have rooms for meetings, with a secured wireless internet as well as video-conferencing, copying and printing facilities. These centres are jointly operated by Regus (a business centre operator),18 the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and NLB.19
Author
Jenny Tien
References
1. National Library Board. (n.d.). National Library Board annual report 2008/2009. Retrieved 2016, June 13 from National Library Board website: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/Reports/fy08/
2. Govt wants all to have access to information. (1988, July 27). The Straits Times, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Geylang library. (1984, June 30). The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Computerised $4.5 m library to open next year. (1987, December 2). The Straits Times, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Two drainage contracts awarded. (1986, March 12). The Business Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. National Library. (1988). Geylang East Community Library. Singapore: Author. (Call no.: RCLOS NC24)
7. $15.6m plan to upgrade six public libraries. (1997, March 7). The Straits Times, p. 46. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. NLB's queue cutting tactics. (2001, January 10). The Straits Times, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. National Library Board. (2014, September 1). Geylang East Public Library. Retrieved May 24, 2016, from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Geylang%20East%20Public%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
10. National Library Board. (n.d.). Statistical summary: National Library Board annual report FY2010/2011, p. 49. Retrieved 2016, May 6 from National Library Board website: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/Reports/fy10/content/NLB_AR10_11_statistical summary.pdf
11. National Library Board. (n.d.). Geylang East Public Library. Retrieved 2016, June 24 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/GEPL%20map%20L1.jpg
12. National Library Board. (n.d.). Event information. Retrieved 2016, June 24 from https://www.nlb.gov.sg/volunteers/public/pasteventdetails.jsp?eventid=28012
13. National Library. (1988). Geylang East Community Library. Singapore: Author. (Call no.: RCLOS NC24)
14. Zaccheus, M. (2013, April 14). Libraries now reflect their communities. The Straits Times, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
15. National Library Board. (2014, September 1). Geylang East Public Library. Retrieved 2016, May 24 from National Library Board website: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Portals/0/library/documents/Geylang%20East%20Public%20Library%20-%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
16. US Embassy donates 400 eReaders to NLB. (2013, July 12). AsiaOne. Retrieved from AsiaOne website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130712-436706.html
17. National Library Board. (2016, March 10). Loan of e-devices. Retrieved 2016, May 24 from National Library Board website: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/VisitUs/AvailableServices.aspx#loan_e_devices
18. Regus Group Companies. (n.d.). Singapore, Geylang East Public Library (Regus Express). Retrieved 2016, May 24 from Regus website: http://www.regus.com.sg/locations/business-lounge/singapore-regus-express-geylang-east-public-library
19. Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. (2014, May 30). Smart work centres officially open in public libraries. Retrieved 2016, June 24 from IDA website: https://www.ida.gov.sg/About-Us/Newsroom/Media-Releases/2014/Smart-Work-Centres-Officially-Open-in-Public-Libraries
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.
one-north is a 200-hectare (2 sq km) development in Buona Vista planned and developed by JTC Corporation. It combines educational institutes, residences and recreational amenities with research facilities to create a “work-live-play-learn” environment. The development – named one-north to reflect Singapore’s geographical location one-degree north of the equator – comprises...
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is an integrated resort (IR) with a hotel, casino, retail mall, as well as convention facilities and entertainment venues including theatres, nightclubs and a museum. Sitting on a 570,000 sq m waterfront site at Marina Bay, MBS is operated by Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Corp. Since...
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...
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,...
The National Library Board’s first centralised Library Book Sale was held at the Suntec City Entertainment Centre in 1998 in conjunction with the Great Singapore Sale. Since then, the book sale has been taking place almost every year either at the Singapore Expo in Changi or the Suntec Singapore Convention...
The six-digit postal code system was introduced in Singapore in 1995. It was adopted by Singapore Post (SingPost) with the aim of facilitating the automation of mail processing, in particular the mail-sorting system. ...
The Bionix infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is an armoured troop carrier of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Developed locally, it entered operational service in the SAF in 1999. Its two main purposes are the ferrying of troops to key battlefield positions, and the provision of additional fire-power in an armoured...
The National Library Building, located at 91 Stamford Road, officially opened on 12 November 1960. Between 1887 and 1960, the National Library had previously occupied the western wing of the Raffles Museum (now the National Museum of Singapore) at Stamford Road. ...
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...
