Library@orchard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The correct title of this article is library@orchard. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
library@orchard is a National Library Board (NLB) library located on Level 5 at Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road, Singapore.
library@orchard was officially opened by Mr Lee Yock Suan, Minister for Information and the Arts on 21 October 1999.
Created as a boutique library, library@orchard, together with library@esplanade, was used as a test bed for NLB to introduce new services and products which could then be adapted for future projects. The library's unique location at the heart of Singapore's bustling Orchard Road shopping belt is intended to attract the youth segment of the population.
library@orchard was created based on feedback in the National Reading Survey. Initially, the librarians had concerns about setting up a library that catered only to young adults as they were used to libraries that served everyone — from children to senior citizens. This uncertainty was assuaged after the development team discussed the concept with focus groups made up of its target customers — young adults.
As it turned out, library@orchard was a big hit with young adults. Its success paved the way for more innovations, such as the music@orchard series of programmes that saw rap artistes and rock bands entertaining huge crowds. Another innovation was comics@orchard where comics went on loan in Singapore's public libraries for the first time.
The success of the first niche library developed for a specific audience led NLB to set up Singapore’s first public performing arts library — the library@esplanade.
As a result of taking the first step to innovate library@orchard and by engaging the wider community, NLB ushered in a new age of boutique libraries that are cool, hip and happening. In the process, NLB managed to not only engage its target audience but also draw the general public into areas they might not otherwise be engaged in.
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[edit] Reference
- The Straits Times, Sip coffee and borrow a book at Ngee Ann City, April 6, 1999
[edit] External link
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