National Library Board
Singapore Chinese Overseas Collection

The National Library Board of Singapore was formed in September 1995 to manage the National Library and public library system in Singapore. It currently manages the National Library, 2 regional and 20 community libraries, and 33 community children's libraries.

However, the National Library of Singapore has a history of more than 175 years with a rich inheritance from the growth and progress of Singapore over the years. Its beginnings stem from the 1820s when Sir Stamford Raffles first mooted the idea of a public library. In 1887, the library moved from the modest premises at the then Raffles Institution to the Library and Museum Building. In 1960, the library moved again to the well-known Stamford Road building and was officially renamed the National Library of Singapore.

The Board has a total collection of 8 million items. It has a comprehensive collection of publications about Singapore, including annual reports, newspapers, magazines, and literary works in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Its Singapore and South East Asia collection numbers 30,000 volumes, including microfilms of over 100 newspapers, some of which date back to 1827. A valuable resource is the Tan Yeok Seong Collection on Chinese trading and history in South East Asia.

The National Library Board has access to collections of the National Library of China, Shanghai Library, British Library and the Russian State Library. These libraries have good collections on China and Chinese Overseas.

Singapore is strategically located in Southeast Asia and has traditionally been the business and communication hub for the region. As the majority of Chinese Overseas live in Southeast Asia, good information about them can be found in the newspapers and other publications available in the collection of the National Library Board of Singapore.

Contact details: Mr Lai Yeen Pong Director Asian Library Services National Library Board 278 Marine Parade Community Building Singapore 449282 Tel : 6342 4410 Fax : 6342 4222 Email : yeenpong@nlb.gov.sg URL : http://www.nlb.gov.sg

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