People
In Search of Silvestr
Sparked by a box of old family documents, Jan Beránek embarked on an eight-year quest that brought him from a small Czech village to modern Singapore.
BiblioAsia Reels
Queenstown Library, the First Branch Library
Opened in 1970 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Queenstown Library has been a landmark on Margaret Drive for more than 50 years.
BiblioAsia Reels
Gems in the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Collection
An 1838 land title deed for a plot of land on Telok Ayer Street bears the signature of pioneer businessman Tan Tock Seng.
Technology
The Early History of Air Conditioning in Singapore
The humble air conditioner is an innovation that we take for granted today. But for the people of Singapore in the mid-20th century, it was a luxury.
Photography
Women Photographers in Singapore and Malaya
In the male-dominated world of 1940s and 1950s photography, three women in Singapore and Malaya found different ways to participate in their craft.
People
Luís de Camões in Asia
Portugal’s most important poet was once imprisoned in Goa, saw fighting in Ternate and worked as the Superintendent for the Dead and Missing in Macau.
Nature and the Environment
Daylight Robbery: Singapore’s Shifting Time Zones
In 1982, Singapore adjusted its time zone to follow Malaysia’s national synchronisation. This was not the only instance that Singapore changes time zone.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” and Other Love Songs
National anthems often start off as songs for different purposes. Singapore’s “Majulah Singapura” is no different.
Inspired by History
Hidden History Brought to Life in a Game
From burial grounds to secret societies, HiddenSG weaves historical materials into immersive adventures across the island.
Inspired by History
One Man’s Mission to Uncover Singapore’s Past
From leading heritage walks to educating on social media platforms, Ho Yong Min is reintroducing the history of Singapore’s urban landscape.
Bacalah Singapura: Reading Habits in Singapore (1960s–1990s)
Reading surveys in the nation-building years reveal what Singaporeans read and why it mattered.
Culture
SYO Brings Singapore Composers into the Limelight
The Singapore Youth Orchestra’s practice of commissioning and performing the works of local composers was instrumental in the growth of Singapore music.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” Finally Breached the Gap
In a BiblioAsia+ podcast episode, music director Julian Wong reveals little-known details about the composer of Singapore’s national anthem.
Op-ed
The Libraries and Archives of Tomorrow
Ng Cher Pong, CEO of the National Library Board, shares his thoughts and insights on how libraries and archives can stay relevant in today’s world.
Film and Photography
Singapore Through the Lens of P.S. Teo and Ronni Pinsler
The photographs of P.S. Teo and Ronni Pinsler of a bygone Singapore form part of the National Archives of Singapore’s 5.5-million strong collection.
People
The Many Facets of Liu Kang
Liu Kang’s many roles as photographer, artist, educator and critic helped paint a new narrative for Singapore’s art history.
Governance
Legal Deposit Legislation in Singapore
The legal deposit function in Singapore can be traced back to an 1835 law enacted in India to control and regulate the flow of information
History
Writing the NLB Story
Established in 1995, the National Library Board was conceived as one of many levers to transform Singapore’s economy and culture.
Governance
A Recent History of Legal Deposit in Singapore
The scope of legal deposit in Singapore expanded to digital materials and web archiving in 2018.
Archaeology
Pioneering Archaeological Research
Research into Malaya’s prehistory took off in the 1930s under the leadership of the Raffles Library and Museum.
Local Icons
Books on Wheels: Singapore's Mobile Libraries
Between the 1960s and 1980s, libraries-on-wheels travelled around Singapore bringing books to residents in rural and suburban areas.
Podcast
Badang the Strongman
Many people know of Badang the strongman. Independent scholar William Gibson tells us the tale of Badang is much more complicated than is generally known.
Podcast
Peng Tsu Ying: Singapore's Pioneering Deaf Educator
Librarian Nathaniel Chew tells us about Peng's advocacy, his own journey learning the Singapore Sign Language and the different ways it has evolved.
Podcast
The Trip That Led to the 1953 Landmark Art Exhibition
Gretchen Liu, the daughter-in-law of Liu Kang, tells us about the mysterious Bali trip undertaken by four Singapore pioneering artists in 1952.
Culture
Historical Photos of Chin Woo’s Golden Lions
The Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association’s lion dance troupe opens their archives for a peek into the rich history of their Golden Lions.
Adventure and Travel
The Construction of Bali’s Mystique
In 1953, four artists held an art exhibition arising from their travels to Bali in 1952. Their trip was inspired by an image of the island as an untouched Eden.
Photography
Forgotten Photographs of the 1952 Trip to Bali
A treasure trove of negatives sheds new light on a trip that led to an exhibition now regarded as a milestone in the history of Singapore art.
Culture
Rites of Rehabilitation: The Social Work of the Zhenkongjiao
With its sometime unconventional treatments, the Zhenkongjiao worked together with local authorities to remove the scourge of opium addiction in Singapore.
Art
The Liu Kang Collection: A Portrait of an Artist
The Liu Kang Collection at the National Library Singapore looks at the creative process of one of Singapore’s most celebrated artists.
Places and Buildings
Karikal Mahal: Stories Reimagined and Retold
History, research and compelling storytelling come together to bring the story of Karikal Mahal to life.
People
Uncovering the Origins of Badang the Strongman
Relics of Badang the Strongman can be found throughout the region. But who was this enigmatic figure?
Podcast
What Makes An Animal Singaporean?
Environmental historian Timothy Barnard tells us what makes migrant animals, like otters and Aedes mosquitoes, Singaporean.
Governance
The Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme
The NMP Scheme was set up to present more opportunities for Singaporeans to participate in politics.
BiblioAsia Reels
Thai Buddhist Temple Wat Ananda
At Singapore's oldest Thai Buddhist temple, you'll discover elements that would not normally be found in a Buddhist temple in Thailand.
People
The Calligraphy of Ustaz Syed Abdul Rahman Al-Attas
The master calligrapher’s artworks not only adorn physical spaces but are also found in Malay print publications.
Podcast
A Tour of 60 Asian Port Cities
Ex–ACM director Kennie Ting tells us how port cities can reveal a different history of Asia, and what his "eat, pray, love" cities are.
People
John Sturgus Bastin: A Memoir
The late Dr John Bastin was the leading authority on Stamford Raffles, having published more than 20 books and many essays on Raffles.
War and Military
All Smoke? Opium Propaganda in the Syonan Shimbun
Imperial Japan justified its occupation of Singapore with opium propaganda and prohibition promises.
Podcast
He Wrote the National Pledge
Irene Ng, the authorised biographer of S. Rajaratnam, tells us the legacy of Singapore’s first foreign minister, and his relationship with Lee Kuan Yew.
People
W. Somerset Maugham: Secrets from the Outstations
Somerset Maugham’s visits to Singapore in the 1920s inspired some of his greatest stories, but these also triggered a fierce backlash against him.
BiblioAsia Reels
Pioneering Journalist R.B. Ooi
Malayan journalist R.B. Ooi (1905–72) worked for newspapers like the Straits Echo and the Malayan Times. Irene Lim, 96, shares her memories of her father.
More places and buildings
Eu Tong Sen’s “Pearl Under the Burning Tropical Sun”
The grandeur and opulence of Eu Villa on Mount Sophia was unrivalled in its heyday.
More Places and Buildings
Remembering the Hawkins Road Refugee Camp
A temporary home for Vietnamese refugees, the Hawkins Road camp received thousands of “boat people” over nearly two decades.
