To commemorate the opening of the Raffles National Library’s new building, the Library organised the first National Library Week from 12th to 18th November 1960 together with the Ministry of Culture and the Library Association of Singapore.
The opening of the Raffles National Library’s new building by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara on 12th November 1960 marked a milestone in the provision of library services in Singapore.
“The National Library is thus an instrument of economic, social and cultural development, and anything which helps to expand and improve our library services as this new building does, will also help us to advance economically, socially and culturally as a new nation.”
- Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Yusof bin Ishak, at the opening of the Raffles National Library on Saturday, 12th November 1960
The inaugural National Library Week attracted large groups of people to the Library. Visitors viewed book displays and exhibitions and were treated to story-telling sessions for children in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, as well as film shows and lectures.
Photos courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.
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