As a book lover, you take refuge in the pages of a book. Some even say those who read books travel “many places.” Why not have both? It’s possible when you’re in Singapore, where libraries do not only house great Singaporean literature and world-class titles but also showcase aesthetics and facilities that appeal to travelers of all ages. Here are the libraries book lovers must check out in Singapore:

National Library

You’ll be stunned by the architectural glory of the National Library. Designed by T.R. Hamzah & Ken Yeang, the building has two towers connected by sky bridges. Its libraries include the Central Public Library in Basement 1 and the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library from Levels 7 to 13. You can find the Drama Centre administered by the National Arts Council from Levels 3 to 5. When you go to the 16th floor, you will spot a bubble-like area called The Pod. This is where functions and events are held and offers a sweeping view of the city and Marina Bay. You can unwind on the ground floor, where the café and the exhibition space are. The building is also filled with gardens. Book lovers can enjoy the spacious reference section, digital library, and the central borrowing library.

Address: 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064

Bishan Public Library

It’s hard to miss Bishan Public Library in Bishan, Singapore, with its contemporary style and stained-glass panels. The unique feature of the library is the reading pods that extend out of the building façade. You can find 250,000 titles spread over four floors and a basement. Located behind Junction 8 Shopping Centre, Bishan Public Library also has a Café Galilee on the first floor. 

Address: 5 Bishan Pl, #01-01 Singapore 579841 

Library@Harbourfront

Dubbed as the largest shopping mall public library in Singapore, Library@Harbourfront features huge windows that offer a panoramic view of Sentosa. The library has a dedicated zone for adults and teens and another for children. Young readers here are encouraged to learn through technology. You can also check out the 16 e-newspaper reading stations and the augmented reality books. 

Address: #03-05, VivoCity 1 Harbourfront Walk Singapore 098585

Tampines Regional Library

Welcome to the first regional library in Singapore. Tampines Regional Library is complete with conference and exhibition spaces. Your bookworm heart will drown in over 235,000 books with 63,000 books in Chinese, making it the largest collection of Chinese books in the library industry. Young readers can also enjoy the playhouse on the ground floor while adults can search for IT and business books and microfilm services. Other highlights in the library are the group activity rooms, cooking stations, running track, and an indoor playground.

Address: #02-01, Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523

Central Public Library

Be amazed by the world’s first green library for children, My Tree House, inside the Central Public Library. It also offers a selection of business and creative design titles. The features of the library are online catalogues, self-check borrowing sites, multimedia stations, and a 24-hour book drop services. The unique feature is the fiction advisory, which recommends books to readers based on their interests, e-kiosks, and devices used. The place is also an event for book launches, meet-the-author programs, book discussions, and exhibitions.

Address: 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064

Library@Orchard

If you’re a bibliophile who’s also enthusiastic about the arts, Library@Orchard is for you. It houses 120,000 items with over 30% of its collection made of novels in English. Library@Orchard evokes comfort and style as it comes with a café, music booths, and charming interiors. The library receives more than 1.4 million visitors a year, and they explore resources related to lifestyle, applied art, and design.

Address: #03-12/#04-11 Orchardgateway, 277 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238858

Library of Botany and Horticulture

Learn about how botanical research is done and marvel at the incredible collection of horticulture at the Library of Botany and Horticulture. Founded in 1875, the Library of Botany and Horticulture is located in Singapore Botanic Gardens and features books, botanical artwork, field books, periodicals, and maps of the Gardens. The Library’s collections are displayed at the Public Reference Library and the Staff Library.

Address: Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569

Library@Esplanade

Library@Esplanade, located on the third floor of the Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay, is known for its resources on performing arts. You can stumble upon compact discs, music scores, literary journals, and books. You will find their sofa seats and chairs comfortable and ideal for reading sessions. You can also relax at Tiffany’s Cafe, which offers a lovely view of Marina Bay. The other features of Library@Esplanade are a performing stage, an exhibition space, a dance alley, and a piano room.

Address: #03-01 Esplanade, 8 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039802

*Featured image by Justin Adam Lee on Shutterstock