Victor Hugo once said, “To learn to read is to ignite a flame” and the best libraries for kids in Singapore are designed to inspire and encourage children to spend time burrowing into a books.
Books and stories hold the power to expand the mind. Through words on a page, unseen worlds get conjured up and landscapes of imagination get unfurled.
In Singapore, there are many public libraries dotting our tiny island. We are fortunate that Singapore’s libraries are well-stocked with books for all ages – from preschoolers to adults. They often host events such as storytellings, performances and workshops too. We love how easy it is to wander into a library and end up getting lost amongst the books for hours.
Best Libraries for Kids in Singapore
Most libraries in Singapore stock a good range of children’s titles. However, there are some public libraries where you and the kids can spend hours engrossed in books. Some of these best libraries for kids in Singapore are destinations in themselves.
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Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium at Central Public Library
The Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium is the first marine biodiversity-themed learning space for children at a public library in Singapore and brings the wonders of biodiversity, particularly marine biodiversity, closer to young ones. Created in partnership with Resorts World Sentosa, the library is made up of several zones.
The Intertidal Zone caters to young readers from 4 to 6 years old. Early literacy resources can be found in the Coral Zone where shelves allow books to face outwards to make browsing easier for little ones and their parents. At the back of the Children’s Biodiversity Library is the Sea Jelly Zone which holds books for children ages 7 years old and up.
There are also spaces for parents to sit down and read with their kids along with exhibits showcasing marine biodiversity. The Submarine is a dedicated space within the kid-friendly library where activities are held.
Where: Basement 1, Central Public Library, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064
Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm daily
Punggol Regional Library
Punggol Regional Library is the largest library in Singapore and two out of the five levels of the library are devoted to kids! Levels 1 and 2 of Punggol Regional Library house the early literacy and the children’s section respectively.
Amongst the features at this kid-friendly library is a children’s area with a toy library and areas for sensory play. There is also a multi-media space where kids can engage with stories as well as a Family Lounge on Level 1.
On Level 2, in addition to book collections organised by fiction, non-fiction and languages, Punggol Regional Library’s children’s area also has a World and Us Zone. This organises books by continents, allowing kids to explore the books according to geography. Reading pods encourage kids to settle down with a book in hand.
Going beyond books, Punggol Regional Library also has tinkering and discovery spaces. Other facilities include a nursing room and Calm Pods for patrons with special needs.
Where: 1 Punggol Drive, One Punggol, #01-12, Singapore 828629
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
library@harbourfront
library@harbourFront, located within VivoCity shopping mall, has a special zone set up just for children. It includes specially-designed spaces where parents and children can read together and a dedicated collection of audio-visual materials and magazines for kids. A cute TinkerTruck space for kids. The library at VivoCity also has Stories Come Alive Room that is used for activities.
Where: VivoCity, #03-05, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm with extended hours from 9 am to 11 am.
Tampines Regional Library
Tampines Regional Library is spread out over five floors. One standout at the library at Our Tampines Hub for young children is the Early Literacy Collection. There are also whimsical reading corners and little nooks where parents can share books with their children.
Perhaps another good reason for children to want to pay a visit to this kid-friendly library is that there is an indoor playground within Tampines Regional Library – Playtopia.
Where: 1 Tampines Walk, Our Tampines Hub, #02-01, Singapore 528523
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Choa Chu Kang Public Library
The Choa Chu Kang Public Library on Level 4 of Lot One Shoppers’ Mall covers two floors with a children’s section on Level 5 that is accessible from within the library. The space at Level 5 is dedicated to family and parenting books as well as the book collection for 0 to 6 years old. An interesting feature at this children’s section is an indoor garden with real plants. This is very much inline with the green theme of the library that has been inspired by the near by farm communities.
Where: 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, #04-01/02 and #05-06, Singapore 689812
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm
Jurong Regional Library
The library’s basement is devoted to children’s books. Jurong Regional Library is also the first library to pioneer Early Literacy Library for younger kids under six. Books are categorised according to the themes Sense & Sensation, Concepts, Languages, Poetry & Rhymes and Emergent Reader. Cozy corners and provided props help parents bring stories to life for younger ones. Read more about Early Literacy Libraries.
Where: Jurong Regional Library, 21 Jurong East Central 1, Singapore 609732
Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm daily
Bukit Panjang Public Library
There is a separate area devoted just to children’s books at Bukit Panjang Public Library. With lines to help with wayfinding around the library and A sunken reading alcoves, the children’s section of Bukit Panjang Public Library invites kids to linger and explore adventure in the many tomes littered throughout the reading space.
Where: 1 Jelebu Road, #04-04 & 16/17, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Singapore 677743
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm
Bedok Public Library
The Bedok Public Library’s children’s collection is located on Level 3. At the main children’s section, there are sitting areas that encourage children to settle down with a book and read. A larger-than-life watering can stands at Bedok Public Library’s children’s section, symbolising how reading nurtures fertile, young minds.
Where: 11 Bedok North Street 1, #02-03 & #03-04, Heartbeat@Bedok, Singapore 469662
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Comics Library
Want to find some new material for your kids to read? How about paying a visit to the Comics Library. The library features an English-language collection of popular comics and graphic novels as well as a collection of comics and graphic novels available in Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.
One of the features at the Comics Library is the StoryGen Room. This is where kids can put on their creative hats and string together a personalised story that is presented in an immersive room. Find out more about the Comics Library.
Where: West Coast Community Club, 2 Clementi West Street 2, #01-05, Singapore 129605
Opening hours: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm, except on public holidays,
If you enjoyed this story, we think that you will also enjoy this one on Central Public Library.
