Building Public Library near or at East Point

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Ministry will undertake a feasibility study to review if a public library can be built at or near East Point to serve the population in Simei and Changi given that the Tampines and Pasir Ris libraries already serve large residential communities.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The National Library Board (NLB) aims to make libraries accessible to Singapore residents.

There are currently about 43,000 residents in the Changi-Simei area. Residents in Simei and Changi have access to a network of three public libraries located next to the Tampines, Bedok and Pasir Ris MRT stations. Bedok and Pasir Ris libraries are smaller branch libraries, while the library in Tampines is a regional library with a wide range of services designed to serve the broader eastern region.

The population in these areas is increasing. NLB recently studied how to better serve the growing number of residents there, and concluded that the best approach was to upgrade all three libraries. The Pasir Ris Public Library was thus revamped and re-opened in November 2015. The Tampines Regional Library will be expanded to about twice its current size. The Bedok Public Library will be re-developed at the nearby Bedok Integrated Complex, offering more diverse spaces. All residents in the East, including in Simei and Changi, will benefit from these enhancements.

In addition, NLB supports community-led initiatives to set up reading corners and community libraries, by training resident volunteers and providing a seed collection of library materials. NLB is currently working with a group of residents to set up a community library in the Changi-Simei area.