Bacalah Singapura: Reading Habits in Singapore (1960s–1990s)
Reading surveys in the nation-building years reveal what Singaporeans read and why it mattered.
Culture
SYO Brings Singapore Composers into the Limelight
The Singapore Youth Orchestra’s practice of commissioning and performing the works of local composers was instrumental in the growth of Singapore music.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” Finally Breached the Gap
In a BiblioAsia+ podcast, music director Julian Wong reveals little-known details about the composer of Singapore’s national anthem.
Op-ed
The Libraries and Archives of Tomorrow
Ng Cher Pong, CEO of the National Library Board, shares his thoughts and insights on how libraries and archives can stay relevant in today’s world.
Film and Photography
Singapore Through the Lens of P.S. Teo and Ronni Pinsler
The photographs of P.S. Teo and Ronni Pinsler of a bygone Singapore form part of the National Archives of Singapore’s 5.5-million strong collection.
People
The Many Facets of Liu Kang
Liu Kang’s many roles as photographer, artist, educator and critic helped paint a new narrative for Singapore’s art history.
Governance
Legal Deposit Legislation in Singapore
The legal deposit function in Singapore can be traced back to an 1835 law enacted in India to control and regulate the flow of information
History
Writing the NLB Story
Established in 1995, the National Library Board was conceived as one of many levers to transform Singapore’s economy and culture.
Governance
A Recent History of Legal Deposit in Singapore
The scope of legal deposit in Singapore expanded to digital materials and web archiving in 2018.
Archaeology
Pioneering Archaeological Research
Research into Malaya’s prehistory took off in the 1930s under the leadership of the Raffles Library and Museum.
Local Icons
Books on Wheels: Singapore's Mobile Libraries
Between the 1960s and 1980s, libraries-on-wheels travelled around Singapore bringing books to residents in rural and suburban areas.
Podcast
Badang the Strongman
Many people know of Badang the strongman. Independent scholar William Gibson tells us the tale of Badang is much more complicated than is generally known.
Podcast
Peng Tsu Ying: Singapore's Pioneering Deaf Educator
Librarian Nathaniel Chew tells us about Peng's advocacy, his own journey learning the Singapore Sign Language and the different ways it has evolved.
Places and Buildings
Remembering the Part-Time Libraries
Part-time branch libraries served residents living in suburban Singapore before fulltime public libraries were built.
Places and Buildings
Lady in Red: The Former National Library
Beyond being a mere repository of books, the library on Stamford Road was a place for acquiring knowledge, making memories and creating friendships.
Nature and the Environment
The Floods of 1954
The severe floods of 1954 spurred significant infrastructure improvements and left a lasting impact on Singapore’s flood preparedness measures.
BiblioAsia Reels
Newly Discovered Photos from Liu Kang’s 1952 Bali Trip
Gretchen Liu sheds light on the discovery of more than 1,000 photos and negatives taken by her father-in-law Liu Kang during his 1952 Bali trip.
Art
A Bridge Between East and West
Liu Kang’s works show the influence of Western artists such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Matisse, as well as the tradition of Chinese ink painting.
Education
Signs of Progress: Deaf Education in Singapore
The first school for the deaf in Singapore was established in 1954, paving the way for deaf education and the development of Singapore Sign Language.
Podcast
Somerset Maugham Scandalises 1920s Singapore
Though Somerset Maugham was already well-known as a writer when he came to Singapore in 1921, his stay here inspired some of his most celebrated short stories.
People
Barbara Kerr: Sharpshooter and Girl Guide Extraordinaire
Barbara Kerr made contributions to the Girl Guides, sports and animal welfare. She was also a talented soprano.
Governance
How the CPF Scheme Came to Be
If things had turned out differently, Singapore would now be using a national pension scheme instead of the Central Provident Fund scheme.
Maps
The Story of Sembawang from 19th-Century Singapore Maps
Sembawang’s history can be told through the many maps that have charted its changes over the years.
Culture
Chingay in the 19th and 20th Centuries
The Chingay Parade held annually in Singapore during the Lunar New Year has its roots in the tai ge from China.
Food
Cups and Sources: Hunting Down the Origins of Kueh Pie Tee
Kueh pie tee is a fixture of classic Singaporean cooking, yet its identity has the shape of an enigma, filled with mystery and garnished with riddles.
BiblioAsia Reels
Singapore’s Early Zoos
Before the Singapore Zoo in Mandai, there were early zoos in the Botanic Gardens, Punggol, Pasir Panjang and on East Coast Road.
People
Japanese Anglicans in World War II Singapore
During the Japanese Occupation, four Japanese Anglicans were a sign of hope for the locals during a dark chapter in Singapore’s history.
More Places and Buildings
A Kampong for the “Grand Old Man of Singapore”
Due to development and urbanisation, Lim Boon Keng’s last home at Paterson Hill no longer exists today.
podcast
Stella Kon: Beyond Emily of Emerald Hill
Playwright Stella Kon talks about the difference between writing plays and musicals, her favourite actor to play Emily, and her writing process.
People
AGS Danaraj: Pioneer Town Planner and News Reader
The former newsreader AGS Danaraj was also a pioneering town planner, who always made time to help the less fortunate.
Governance
Laws of Our Land: Foundations of a New Nation
The Singapore Citizenship Ordinance (1957), the Women’s Charter (1961) and the Employment Act (1968) are three legislations that have shaped modern Singapore.
Worship
Singapore’s Armenian Church Survived Close to 180 Years
Never large, Singapore’s Armenian community barely survived the war. Then came the demographic collapse.
Art
Singapore’s Pioneer Cartoonists
Many of the early cartoonists were ideologically motivated and their drawings aimed to bring about social and political change.
Local Icons
Singapore’s National Souvenir: The Gold-plated Past of RISIS
Much more than a tourist souvenir, Singapore’s gold-plated RISIS orchids were a triumph of grit and branding.
Tools of the Trade: Letterpress Printing in Singapore
Letterpress printing may be obsolete today but the tools involved continue to be objects of fascination.
BiblioAsia Reels
Traditional Letterpress Printing in Singapore
Typesettingsg founder Sun Yao Yu shares more about this printing technique – once the main commercial printing method here in the 19th century.
From Book To Cook
Sea Snail & Papaya Curry: A Eurasian Delight
MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva makes this uncommon Kristang curry that combines two very unlikely ingredients: sea snail and papaya.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
The Scoop on Otak Blangah
How does this Peranakan dish compare with otak-otak? Tanya Pillay-Nair from the Peranakan Indian Association of Singapore revives this old recipe with her aunt.
Local Icons
Sentosa’s Cable Cars at 50
As Singapore’s cable car system commemorates 50 years of service, we look back at the journey of this iconic attraction that has brought joy to many a rider.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
Soon Kueh Stories
What does a soon kueh recipe have to do with a Buddhist temple? Find out as researcher Kelvin Tan conquers sticky dough to make this humble vegetarian snack.
People
Cikgu Asfiah Abdullah: A Cultural Luminary
A former teacher and mak andam fulfils her dream by writing a book on Malay recipes in 1986, the first all-Malay cookbook from Times Books International.
People
Reconstructing Charles Darwin’s Lost Library
Almost 20 years of painstaking scouring and sleuth work have resulted in what is probably the largest and most comprehensive resource on Charles Darwin.
VIDEO: FROM BOOK TO COOK
Peeling Back the Layers of Bunga Kobis
What is bunga kobis and why was it prepared only for special occasions? Join librarian Toffa Abdul Wahed as she puts together this many-layered pastry.
Video: From Book to Cook
Unravelling the Mystery of Mee Maidin
Food historian and author Khir Johari whips up this noodle dish from Kampong Gelam, and reveals its special ingredient – krill.
Theatre and Dance
From Betty of Balmoral Road to Emily of Emerald Hill
A study of early drafts of Emily of Emerald Hill reveals fascinating choices and paths not taken.
Podcast
The Tragedy of Singapore’s First Boxing Superstar
Tan Teng Kee was the Mike Tyson of Singapore boxing in the 1920s. Known as Battling Key, the larger-than-life boxer attracted crowds wherever he went.
Sports
Battling Key, Yeo Choon Song and Singapore Boxing
In the aftermath of World War I, the “noble art” became wildly popular in Singapore thanks to two Straits Chinese who took on all-comers, including each other.
PODCAST
Chia Boon Leong: The Homegrown Football Olympian
Nicknamed “Twinkle Toes” for his agility, Chia Boon Leong (1925–2022) is widely regarded as one of Singapore‘s most talented football players.
Inspired by History
One Man’s Mission to Uncover Singapore’s Past
From leading heritage walks to educating on social media platforms, Ho Yong Min is reintroducing the history of Singapore’s urban landscape.
Inspired by History
Hidden History Brought to Life in a Game
From burial grounds to secret societies, HiddenSG weaves historical materials into immersive adventures across the island.
National Symbols
“Majulah Singapura” and Other Love Songs
National anthems often start off as songs for different purposes. Singapore’s “Majulah Singapura” is no different.
