What’s Inside Punggol Regional Library, Singapore’s Largest Public Library

Punggol Regional Library, now Singapore’s largest public library, has fully opened its doors earlier this month. If you’re looking for a good read and a space to thrive, this is the place to be. It boasts five storeys, with each focusing on the needs of different age groups, and welcomes anyone — be it children and their parents, teenagers, seniors, students, freelancers, aspiring entrepreneurs, or persons with disabilities. Let’s take a look at what’s inside this massive regional library!

A Haven for Early Learning

The first two floors, which opened on Jan. 30 as part of the library’s soft opening, features a range of learning spaces for children.

Multiple low shelves can be found on Level 1, along with a spacious floor area and seats for kids to find a reading spot after picking up a book (or two).

A space dedicated to toys, costumes, and other educational items called Toy Library and TinkerTots is also on the first floor to help children aged six years and below develop their cognitive skills through creative play and tinkering activities.

Once your kids get tired of reading, take them to Stories Come Alive Room to enjoy an immersive storytelling experience through moving visuals and lighting effects.

On the second floor, children can find The Storyteller Cove, where animations, illustrations, and stations for prop-making are available to help them find inspiration.

A do-it-yourself (DIY) tinkering space, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution from the United States, called The Spark!Lab™ is also on the same floor for older children aged seven to 12 years old to try hands-on activities independently.

For kids who want to widen their horizons and explore the world, the World and Us Zone features reading materials from around the world, including those donated by international libraries, embassies, and high commissions.

Learn, Work, and Thrive

The three remaining floors, which are aimed at teens and adults, opened on April 5, marking the full opening of the library.

On Level 3, The Lens of Literature in the Sing Lit section will take you to an interactive showcase of poems, novels, and story excerpts by Singapore writers. Its first edition, “Punggol Stories,” features 16 literary works covering different themes.

You can also study and get tasks done on Level 3 at the 80-seater Study Zone by reserving a slot through the National Library Board (NLB)’s seat booking system. For teenagers looking for a good read, the Teenspace comes with artwork installations and content focused on popular genres such as fantasy and science fiction.

On Level 4, you’ll find technologies to interact with to experience first-hand how they work and how they’re changing the way we live. One of them is the ExperienceIT zone, where you can play a Mario Kart-inspired game against an artificial intelligence (AI) driver.

For those interested in tech-based fabrication technologies, the MakeIT zone allows patrons to try robotics, 3D printers, and digital cutters.

The NLB’s very own business resource centre called Launch is also on the fourth floor to support the growth of individuals, aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers.

If you want more of “Punggol Stories,” the Singaporium also has it as a permanent exhibition to bring the area’s heritage collections closer to you.

Lastly, the highest floor of the library is home to the Programme Room. It’s a huge collaborative space, where individuals and businesses can organise or attend talks and workshops about all kinds of topics, from arts to sustainability. 

Punggol Regional Library is located within the One Punggol integrated community hub, which is connected to Sam Kee LRT Station. It’s open daily from 10 AM to 9 PM, but closes early at 5 PM on Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year’s eves. The library is closed on public holidays.

Visit the NLB’s website to check the floor plan, complete list of facilities, scheduled activities, and accessibility information for those using a wheelchair.