The library@orchard to close

25 July 2007 (CNA)

The National Library's first downtown hub for bookworms, library@orchard is closing.

Library users will however find the next chapter for library@orchard, even better with the library re-opening in 2010 at *scape the youth community space and possibly another redeveloped site along Orchard Road.

The Ngee Ann City location for the Library will shut its doors by November 2007 because the lease on the premises is not being renewed. However, books can still be returned at the bookdrop located at library@orchard until 15 December 2007.

Commenting on the plans to move, Dr N Varaprasad, Chief Executive of National Library Board said, "We are very excited about our move to the two new possible locations, which will help us to meet the evolving and diverse needs of the youths and instil a stronger sense of learning culture amongst them."

As the Orchard road location caters mainly to young people, the National Library Board is consulting its young users on the development of the new space at *scape.

"Ultimately, we want these two new spaces to not only build on the success of the original library@orchard but to scale new heights in reaching out to the young Singaporeans in the Orchard community," said Dr Varaprasad.

To commemorate the relocation of library@orchard, the NLB will hold a series of public events and programmes - such as exhibitions, film screenings, talks and even ‘live’ performances by local bands and musicians - over the next few months.

To say "goodbye", the NLB will have a ‘Moving On’ party on November 30th.

The library@orchard first opened in 1999.

It was a milestone in NLB's history as it was the first niche lifestyle library, designed to attract young Singaporeans with its unique location at the heart of the Orchard Road shopping belt.

Together with an appealing ambience, thanks to the presence of music booths and a café, library@orchard managed to double its outreach, with an average of more than 1.4 million visitors per year. - CNA/sf