Start with NewspaperSG if you need an old Singapore newspaper article, a family announcement or coverage of a local event. Search online first. If the result shows that the page is restricted to an NLB library station, or the issue has a microfilm record, save the newspaper title, date and page number before planning an onsite visit.
The Lee Kong Chian Reference Library is in the National Library Building at 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064, near Bugis. NLB’s reference contact page lists Levels 7 to 11. For a newspaper or microfilm enquiry, check the holding and the reading arrangement with the reference library before you go.
- Start online — Search NewspaperSG by keyword or browse a title by date.
- Save — Newspaper title, issue date, page number and any reel number.
- Onsite access — Follow the viewing notice on the particular result.
- Research address — National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street.
On this page
Start with a person, place or event
If you know the exact day, find the newspaper title and browse the issue by date. For an event, look at the day after as well as the day itself. Announcements can appear before an event, while photographs and follow-up reports can run several days later. When you know only the year, use a distinctive name or address to narrow your search first.
Search for spelling variants. An older article may use an earlier street name, a shorter business name or a different spelling of a person’s name. If a full name produces no results, try the surname with a neighbourhood or occupation. If you know the edition or page, browsing can recover a result that keyword search misses.
Read the access note on your result
Finding a record and opening the entire page are two different steps. Some NewspaperSG pages are readable remotely. Others direct readers to an NLB library multimedia station. Follow the message on the specific result. It gives you a better answer than assuming all issues from a newspaper title have the same access rules.
If you are checking a single article, save its direct result link before you leave home. Also keep the issue details in plain text in case you need to navigate again at the library. For a photograph, advertisement or layout question, note that you need the page image when asking for help.
What to do if the issue is on microfilm
The browse page for a newspaper can show a microfilm listing as well as issues available online. If a reel identifier appears, write it down together with the publication date and page. A reel can cover several issues, so a date is still useful even when the identifier is known.
NLB has documented its reference microfilm collection at Level 11. Confirm the current reader location, hours and any arrangements for a particular reel with the reference service. If you expect to need a copy, ask about the applicable reproduction terms and charges before relying on a scan or printout.
What to bring to 100 Victoria Street
Keep a short research list that fits on one screen. Put the most important newspaper issue first. Add two or three secondary dates only if they could answer your question. Show the reference staff the title, date and reel information together. This is more useful than arriving with only a broad topic such as ‘old articles about Bugis’.
If you are helping a student, agree what counts as finding an answer. For instance, if the assignment asks when a shop opened, an opening-day advertisement and a later article describing its history do different jobs. A note explaining what each source actually shows will be more useful than a folder of unlabelled screenshots.
Record the issue so you can find it again
For each source, write down the newspaper title, issue date, page and headline. Save the stable NewspaperSG link when available. If you read a photograph caption or another item on the same page, label it separately from the article. A page can contain several pieces with unrelated authors and dates in their text.
Try the method with a local event you already know. Find the first report and one later account. Compare the facts they share and what changed between them. Keep a separate note for details you still need to verify, such as an address that has since been renumbered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I read NewspaperSG from home?
Some issues or pages can be read remotely. Follow the access information displayed on the specific result.
Is a microfilm listing a digital scan?
The listing is a way to identify the relevant reel. Check whether an online issue is also available.
Which building do I visit for the reference collection?
Use the National Library Building at 100 Victoria Street and contact the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library about your specific holding.