Every Reader a Library, Every Library its Reader: Designing Responsive Libraries for Our Communities

The National Library Board Singapore (NLB) envisions the public libraries in Singapore to be a network of inspirational and creative library spaces that are information-rich, accessible and community-supported to promote reading, learning and knowledge creation in Singapore. In the past year, NLB has opened a new public library – the library@orchard, and revamped the Sembawang Public Library. The paper uses the new library@orchard and Sembawang Public Library as key case studies to show how these libraries are designed in line with NLB’s vision for Singapore public libraries of the future; in particular, how they meet the design outcome of differentiated learning spaces for different user groups to inspire reading and facilitate learning and collaboration. It will also showcase how NLB engages its users to design libraries that respond to user needs.