Library@orchard

library@orchard

library@orchard is a National Library Board (NLB) library located on Level 5 at Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road, Singapore.

library@orchard was officially opened by Lee Yock Suan, Minister for Information and the Arts, on 21 October 1999.

History

Establishment

Created as a boutique library, library@orchard, together with library@esplanade, was used as a test bed for NLB to introduce new services and products which could then be adapted for future projects. The library's unique location at the heart of Singapore's bustling Orchard Road shopping belt is intended to attract the youth segment of the population.

library@orchard was created based on feedback in the National Reading Survey. Initially, the librarians had concerns about setting up a library that catered only to young adults as they were used to libraries that served everyone — from children to senior citizens. This uncertainty was assuaged after the development team discussed the concept with focus groups made up of its target customers — young adults.

As it turned out, library@orchard was a big hit with young adults. Its success paved the way for more innovations, such as the music@orchard series of programmes that saw rap artistes and rock bands entertaining huge crowds. Another innovation was comics@orchard where comics went on loan in Singapore's public libraries for the first time.

The success of the first niche library developed for a specific audience led NLB to set up Singapore’s first public performing arts library — the library@esplanade at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.

As a result of taking the first step to innovate library@orchard and by engaging the wider community, NLB ushered in a new age of boutique libraries that are cool, hip and happening. In the process, NLB managed to not only engage its target audience but also draw the general public into areas they might not otherwise be engaged in.

With an appealing ambience, and the presence of music booths and a café, library@orchard managed to double its outreach since its establishment, with an average of more than 1.4 million visitors per year.

Closure and relocation

On 25 July 2007, the National Library Board announced that library@orchard will be closed on 30 November, 2007 because the lease on the premises at Ngee Ann City would not be renewed.

Macquarie Pacific Star Prime Reit Management, which handled the library's lease, stated that the board paid rent that was below prevailing market rates for the 1,580 square metre (17,000 square feet) space. NLB had been told in March 2005 that the lease would not be renewed when it expires in February 2008. The vacated apace would house fashion, beauty and wellness retailers. Rents in the Orchard Road shopping belt had increased 5-7% in the first half of 2007, and was estimated to go up by another 5-6% by end 2007.

However, there are plans to re-open the library at *scape, a youth community space next to Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, in 2010, and possibly at another redeveloped site along Orchard Road. The new 1,000 m² (10,760 ft²) library at *scape would cater to youths aged 17 to 25 who frequent the youth hub there. The second library, slightly more upmarket and catering to professionals and executives aged 25 to 40, would likely be located in an upcoming shopping mall on Orchard Road. As the location on Orchard Road caters mainly to young people, NLB would be consulting its young users on the development of the new space at *scape.

To commemorate the relocation of library@orchard, NLB would hold a series of public events and programmes, such as exhibitions, film screenings, talks and even "live" performances by local bands and musicians, in the months leading to the closure. A "Moving On" party has been scheduled on November 30, 2007.

References

• The Straits Times, Sip coffee and borrow a book at Ngee Ann City, April 6 1999
• "Evolution of the boutique library". "Challenge", Prime Minister's Office (Singapore). Retrieved 2007-07-25.

External links

• National Library Board
• library@orchard blog