Prep Course Learning Journey @ NLB (27 January 2012)

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Learning journey to National Library of Singapore

Last Friday on the 27^th of January, we went on our learning journey to National Library of Singapore. The trip was fruitful. I gained much knowledge from this learning journey.

We arrived at national library at around 9.00am. The Central Library and Lee Kong Chain Library are in the same building and are also in National Public Library. When we arrived at the library, our first station was Central Library. Central Library is in the basement and it is a public library. There are 24 public libraries in Singapore. There is a big window in the central library. Looking through the window, you can see 5000 bricks outside. They are from the old public library because many elderly people who used to go to the old library miss their old library. The government decided to move 5000 bricks to the new library to commemorate the old library. The old library was in Stamford Road. 

On the first shelf of the library, there are many books about Singapore’s history. If you need to do a project about Singapore, you can find whatever information you need to find about Singapore in this row. 

Not only are there many books about Singapore, there are also many foreign newspapers from the whole world. We were awed by the humongous collection of newspapers the library has. I was impressed by the collection of different newspaper from different countries that was neatly arranged in the respective shelves. I compared this to the library in my country and I knew that the NLB in Singapore certainly had high standards. 

The marshalling sequence of this public library is not the same as other libraries’. Other public libraries arrange the books according to the surnames of the authors. However, this library arranges by the style of the book’s writings. 

There were a myriad of exhibitions there too. As we stepped into the colossal building, we were greeted by a sea of books. In this library, there is also a Children’s Collection. Over the weekend, they will have story time sessions for children. 

Our next station was Lee Kong Chian Library. It is on the 7^th-9^th floors. Once we entered the Lee Kong Chian Library, we were amazed at the three levels all visible at one glance. We realized that technology is so advanced that old newspapers can be kept for many years by transferring them into microfilms. 

We were introduced to a machine that ‘preserved’ the newspapers’ from yesteryears. We were shown how the machine was operated. I was impressed when I saw some old men reading some of these ‘preserved’ newspapers. 

The last level that we visited was “The Port”. We were taken aback at the magnificent view of Marina Bay Sands and also the famous wheel. We were almost able to see the whole of Singapore from “The Port” and had in mind to bring our families next here for a view of this serene beauty. 

We certainly had a wonderful learning experience at the National Library in Singapore and we know we will return to the library, in the near future. 

All of us enjoyed our learning journey!

Written by: Suryogo [Lower Prep], Zhou Taien [Lower Prep), Zheng Yiying [Upper Prep]