The guest of Honour Assoc Prof Ho browsing a book Elaborate ceilings and designer shelves Used to be, public libraries were all stand alone buildings, with the public area extending to at least two levels. These are libraries set up in rented lots within a building, usually a shopping complex. In fact, the last four community libraries set up by NLB are all rented libraries. Space is fully optimised with minimal reading area and furniture.
Readers often have to be content with sitting on the carpeted floor to read, and many do just that.
It's actually very comfortable. Located in shopping complexes, library users can eat, shop, visit the library, and do other recreational activities all at one place. Thus for the NLB, considerations in setting up a public library include not only functionality, but also convenience and accessibility to library users, and aesthetics. Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee on 26 February 1998. Although the smallest CL, the YICL serves over 180,000 Singaporeans in the north, with a start-up collection of 120,000 print items and 160 CD ROM titles.