Know All About Library@Harbourfront at Vivocity
Library@Harbourfront opened to much fanfare on 12 January 2019. Occupying an area of 3000 square metres, Library@Harbourfront is the largest library located in a shopping mall. To be precise, it is the largest library located in the largest shopping mall in Singapore – Vivocity.
Library@Harbourfront replaces Bukit Merah Public Library which closed in December 2018.
1. How To Get To Library@Harbourfront At Vivocity
Library@Harbourfront is located at:
1 Harbourfront Walk
#03-05 (Lobby F) VivoCity
Singapore 098585
Nearest MRT:
Harbourfront (NE1/CC29)
Nearest Bus Interchange:
Harbourfront
Buses:
10, 30, 30e, 57, 61, 65, 80, 97, 97E, 100, 123, 123M, 131, 143, 145, 166, 855, NR1, NR6, RWS8
2. Opening Hours Of Library@Harbourfront
Monday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
The library is closed at 5 p.m. on eves of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.
The library is closed on public holidays.
Bookdrop hours:
10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
3. Things To Note When You Visit Library@Harbourfront
(a) COVID-19 Rules
Masks are still compulsory in indoor settings, in accordance with the current COVID-19 rules.
(b) Foldable Bikes And Personal Mobility Devices
If you are planning to bring along your foldable bicycles or personal mobility devices, please fold them before entering the library and ensure that they do not exceed 120 cm by 70 cm by 40 cm.
(c) Wheelchair-Friendly Access
Most areas within the library are wheelchair-accessible. There is also a wheelchair lift at Reading Lounge 2 to enable patrons on wheelchairs to get to the lower level of the lounge to enjoy the sea view while reading.
(d) Run By Volunteers
The adults and teens zone is fully run by NLB volunteers. Besides helping to shelf books, the warm and friendly volunteers are there to assist patrons with their enquires. Do be kind and polite, and remember to show your appreciation!
4. A Tour Of Library@Harbourfront
As you enter the library, to the right of the bookdrop is a comprehensive directory of the facilities and book collections. You can see from the map that the library is clearly divided into two zones – the adults and teens zone in blue and the children zone in green. The purpose of this clear demarcation is to aid in crowd management and noise control.
Besides boasting an impressive collection of 200,000 books, Library@Harbourfront also has a huge seating capacity of 460.
The lobby houses the reservation lockers and bookdrop. These services can be accessed by the public even outside of library operating hours.
On your visit, you may want to spend some time at the bookdrop to watch the auto-sorter in action through the glass panels. It is the largest auto-sorter in Singapore, backed by a total of 15 bins for highly efficient sorting. The task of sorting returned books is now undertaken by automation, hence freeing up manpower for other tasks. If you are interested to know more about other technology initiatives that NLB has taken, click here.
The lobby area is also where exhibitions are held. Other than typical books and magazines, NLB brings in exhibits and displays showcasing photographs, art, multimedia materials and other collections that surprise patrons, tell stories and engage them in creative ways.
Beyond the lobby area, one of the things which is likely to catch the eye of a first-time visitor is the design of the library. Inspired by its location at the waterfront, the design incorporates elements reminiscent of the coast and sea. The theme of the library is “Beyond the horizons”, hence design elements are aptly combined to encourage patrons to seek life-long knowledge and learning.
It is also pretty remarkable how the lights follow the curved contours at the ceiling and on the walls to give the space incredibly awesome lighting. Such a work of art!
(a) Adults And Teens Zone
There are two reading lounges at Library@Harbourfront. Audio-visual materials and the comics collection can be found at Reading Lounge 1. At Reading Lounge 2, there are 16 e-newspaper stations for patrons to access daily local newspapers as well as international newspapers. When not in use, both reading lounges can be converted into programme spaces.
Much thought has also gone into the selection of furniture pieces for the reading lounges. Complementing the coastal theme and green-blue colour scheme are deck chairs facing the sea and Sentosa for patrons to take in the amazing views while relaxing their eye muscles. Talk about a beach vacation kind of vibes!
The reading lounges are a hit with diligent young people. Even on weekends, you’ll see them at the rows of study tables poring over their study materials or working on their projects.
The learning zone within the adults and teens zone is an interactive space where patrons can learn about the latest technologies and related topics. NLB works with various partners to put up displays and materials according to themes which are changed quarterly.
Online courses such as marketing and photography can also be accessed at the 6 learning pods in this zone.
Lined up along the walkway just outside Reading Lounge 1 are multimedia stations where patrons can browse through the e-resources. As part of the Silver Infocomm Junctions scheme, seniors can enjoy one hour of free internet access daily at one of these stations.
Patrons can study or engage in self-directed learning in spacious rooms designated as programme zones. There are two such rooms. The video wall in Programme 1 room features tools like Google Earth, as well as content on topics such as travel, geography, heritage and innovation.
The seats and furniture are movable, allowing interactive group activities to be conducted. This room can hold up to 35 people.
Programme 2 room was closed at the time of our visit so we do not have a picture of the interior. This room can hold about 65 people. When combined, Programme 1 and Programme 2 rooms can hold about 120 people, allowing larger group activities to be held.
There is also a whole magazine section where rows and columns of magazine covers are displayed in see-through panels, allowing patrons to take their pick easily. Whether you are a photography enthusiast, an aspiring home chef or simply want to keep abreast of the latest fashion trend, you will not be disappointed with the whole range of magazines available.
While at Library@Harbourfront, you need not fret over your gadgets running out of power. There are two pillars in the adults and teens zone with power sockets for your charging needs – do remember to bring your own chargers though.
There are some rules to abide by:
1. Keep cable wire short.
2. Sit on nearby bench to wait (do not leave your gadgets unattended).
3. Do not overload socket.
4. Do not sit on floor and work around the pillar.
(b) Children Zone
As you enter the children zone, you will immediately be greeted by the Tinker Truck which is a maker-space for children between 3 and 9 years old. Library@Harbourfront is the first library to have such a space. Besides encouraging children to get their creative juices flowing, the thematic DIY activity sheets and hands-on activities can allow them to hone their problem-solving skills. The children are also bound to have a whale of a time experimenting with AR (augmented reality) books which allow stories to be brought to life with the use of apps.
The comprehensive collection of books at Library@Harbourfront will surely excite our junior bookworms!
There are two reading circles for children up to 3 years old. Notice that the books are shelved with their covers facing the front. This is to allow the toddlers to easily choose books which interest them. How thoughtful!
The Stories Come Alive room makes use of images as well as light and sound effects to bring stories to life. Children will surely be captivated by this immersive experience.
That’s all for our sharing of Library@Harbourfront! Do take the time to visit this awesome library when you are at Vivocity.
On a side note, if you are eager to pick up a hobby which is simple and therapeutic, do visit Sienna Lee’s post featuring play-along videos of kalimba songs!