At the National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street, go to Basement 1 for Central Public Library and its lending collections, including children’s books. Use the upper floors for the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library if you are consulting research material. The catalogue and reference guide tell you which floor to visit.
These are different services in one building. A family looking for books to take home can start in the basement. A researcher looking for a specific newspaper, publication or reference book should check the catalogue first and use the location listed for the item.
- Use Basement 1 for Central Public Library.
- Check the catalogue’s location and availability for research material.
- Bring the title, author and date if you need help finding a reference item.
- Agree on the floor before meeting someone inside.
Plan your visit
Borrow books in Basement 1 · Find the reference floor · Plan a mixed visit
Basement 1 for borrowing and children’s reading
Central Public Library is at #B1-01. Start here for the lending collection, including children’s fiction and nonfiction. If you are coming to pick a book with a child, choose a section and give them time to browse before checking out.
The children’s section includes a marine biodiversity-themed learning space. Use the library’s current listing to find out whether a programme is scheduled or needs registration. A family can also make a simple visit around a book and a short look at the displays.
For borrowing, check the item’s status and your membership requirements. If you are coming for one specific title, search for it before leaving and confirm it is available at Central Public Library.
Which Lee Kong Chian Reference Library floor do you need?
NLB’s reference guide identifies Level 7 for business, social sciences, science and technology. It lists Level 8 for arts and humanities and Level 9 for the Chinese, Malay and Tamil collections. Level 11 includes Singapore and Southeast Asia materials in English, with some subject collections located elsewhere.
Use the exact item record to choose a floor. Some items are retrieved on request, and formats such as microfilm have their own service arrangements. The NLB reference guide identifies Level 11 for on-site microfilm consultation. Check its instructions before setting aside time to read an old newspaper or specialist material.
If an item is for reference use, plan to consult it on site and follow its handling or reproduction rules. Ask the information counter when you have a citation but cannot tell whether the record is a book, a newspaper issue or a copy in another format.
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How to plan a family or research visit
For a family, use the basement as the common meeting point and decide whether everyone wants to stay for the same length of time. If one person also has a research task, agree on where and when to meet again. A message saying ‘National Library’ leaves several floors open.
For a research trip, arrive with a short list of sources in order of importance. Write down the full title, publication date or issue number and call number if available. Start with the item that needs the most checking so there is time to ask staff about an alternative.
Check the current NLB opening details for the service you intend to use. The building’s public spaces, lending collection and specialised reference services can have different arrangements.
Contents · Previous section · Common questions
Common questions
Where is the lending library?
Central Public Library is at Basement 1, #B1-01, 100 Victoria Street.
Which floor has historical newspapers on microfilm?
NLB lists microfilm consultation on Level 11. Check the title and date with the reference service.
Can I borrow every book in the building?
Check the item record and its usage conditions. The lending library and reference collections serve different purposes.