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Ang Mo Kio Community Library

Ang Mo Kio Community Library was the fifth full-time branch library built by the National Library in its plans to bring library services nearer to the homes of the people. Located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, it provides lending and reference library services and reference audiovisual service for children, young people and adults.

History
A Building Committee was set up in the Financial Year 1978 to prepare estimates and plan for the Ang Mo Kio Branch Library. A new site next to the Town Centre was provided by the Housing & Development Board for the Branch Library in the Financial Year 1979. In October 1980 the Building Committee completed the building brief and submitted it to the project architect, PWD, for preliminary drawings and costings.

In the Financial Year 1981, the Treasury gave in-principle approval for building the Branch Library. Project costs for the Branch were submitted in the Development Estimates 1982 and approved by the Treasury in July 1982. Foundation work for the Branch started in September and completed in December 1983. Construction of the building began and completed by April 1985.

On 17 August 1985 the Ang Mo Kio Branch Library was officially opened by Yeo Toon Chai, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio Constituency. The Library was opened to the public on 19 August 1985. The Ang Mo Kio Branch Library was renamed the Ang Mo Kio Community Library when the National Library became a Statutory Board on 1 September 1995.

Description
The Ang Mo Kio Community Library is a two storey standalone building, located at the fringe of the new Ang Mo Kio Town Centre. Modelled after four other Branch Libraries, built earlier, it provides the full range of library services for adults, young people and children. On the ground floor were located the Circulation Counter, the Children's Section, the Storytelling Room, Staff Workroom and the multi-purpose Lecture Hall. A spiral staircase on the first floor, next to the Circulation Counter, led to the second floor. On this floor there are the Young People and Adult Section, the Audiovisual Room, Staff Workroom, the Librarian's Office and the Library Stacks. At the back of the building there is an enclosed staff car park.

Renovation and Upgrading
In late 2002, the Ang Mo Kio Community library was closed for a period of nine months. This was to renovate the library and to upgrade its services. This was done at the cost of S$3.5 million. It was reopened to the public on 26 January 2003 with two new services. The new services are the Indian Library Service and Mind Matters.

The Indian Library Service includes print and non-print titles covering topics such as Indian history, art, culture, civilisation and philosophy. The titles are mostly in Tamil. With this service, Ang Mo Kio Community Library became home to the largest Tamil language collection in any of the National Library's branches with around 11,000 Tamil titles. Mind Matters aims to develop and stimulate the mind and thinking ability at all levels. Besides this, games and cultural programmes are also held. Two sets of Scrabble was donated by game company Mattel for the use of library patrons. Workshops are held to promote Chess, scrabble and Weiqi games.



Author
Heng Wong & Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References 
National library. (1978). Annual report (pp. 13, 19). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR)

National library. (1979). Annual report (p. 15). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR)

National library. (1980). Annual report (p. 14). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR)

National library. (1981-1982). Annual report (pp. 3, 9). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR)

National library. (1983). Annual report (pp. 2,7). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR) 

National library. (1984). Annual report (pp. 13, 19). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR) 

National library. (1985). Annual report (pp. 1, 6, 16). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 027.55957 RLSAR) 

The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Public Buildings>>Libraries
Public libraries--Singapore
Libraries--Singapore
Law and government>>Culture and community>>Public libraries
Science and technology>>Library and information science>>Library and information services



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