THE FOUR FLOOR PLANS
SINGAPORE NATIONAL LIBRARY
INGAPORE'S new National Li- brary, opened in November 1960, has been described as neither aggres- sively contemporary nor imposingly classical in detail.
Designed by P.W.D. architects in consultation with a specialist in library functions and requirements. the National Library is a reinforced concrete framed structure with select- ed brick facings externally as a measure of economy in maintenance.
Against this the internal finishes are of as high a standard as possible. in keeping with the importance of a building which is a source of learn-
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ing and national monument,
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On the ground floor is the general lending library, the junior lending library, workspaces and the catalo- guing rooms.
The mezzanine floor accommodates the administrative offices, and on the upper floors
the are
reference libraries.
The main entrance hall can be used for exhibitions and there is also a hall. with a small stage and projector room. accommodating about 250 people, which can be used for lectures, film shows. musical performances and art exhibitions.
The informal internal courtyard and fountain with the stack block rising six storeys in the background.
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A large covered open air reading room on the top floor provides cool and comforable spaces for quiet reading of newspapers and periodi- cals. A buffet is attached to this room for the reading public.
In addition there are five storeys of stack rooms, served by a passen. ger and book lifts. There are also facilties in the carrels for private research work and study. In addition there is a microfilm room and a dark room, as well as i Braille rooms for blind readers.
An additional stack can be built alongside the existing stack rooms when it becomes necessa ary.
It was originally intended that the whole building should be air-condi tioned, but as a measure of economy only certain rooms, where it is essential for the preservation of books and records. have air-condi- tioning installed.
The National Library caters for English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil speaking readers. It is a free lending library and is also the archival cen- tre and reference centre for the Singapore Government. Copies of all books printed and published in Singapore are preserved here.
The Dewan Bahasa dan Kebuda- yaan Kebangsaan (Institute of Na- tional Language and Culture) will also be accommodated in the build- ing.
Main contractors for the building are Messrs Ho Bock Kee. Chief sub.
sontractors are:
IRONMONGERY:
Long Ltd.
Kwong Sing
METAL WINDOWS: William
Jacks Ltd.
FLOOR AND WALL TILING:
Sime Darby Ltd.
ELECTRICAL:
Co. Ltd.
General Electric
LIFTS: Harrisons Lister Engineer-
ing Ltd. (Schindler).
AIR-CONDITIONING:
Waugh (Singapore) Ltd.
Henry
ROOFING: Guthrie and Co. Ltd.
PAINTS: P.A.R. Malayan Paint
Works Ltd.