https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/ Discover stories from across our collection en Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:39:28 +0800 Isomer (https://www.isomer.gov.sg) https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/volume-22-issue-4-jan-mar-2027-mr-lee-is-playing-golf-still-a-family-vacation-in-cameron-highlands-provided-cover-for-lky-s-efforts-to-finalise-separationurn:isomer:resource:407255As a lawyer, a wife and a mother, Kwa Geok Choo – the wife of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew – provides a unique insight into a critical moment in Singapore’s history.Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-woman-s-mission-to-revive-traditional-chinese-candyurn:isomer:resource:349579After quitting her civil service job to become a pastry chef, Yeo Min decided to focus on preserving traditional Chinese candy when she realised the tradition was dying, even in the syllabus of the pastry school . In this episode, she talks about her journey to making traditional Chinese candy, writing the book Chinese Pastry School and founding the Museum of Food.Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-saving-traditional-chinese-pastryurn:isomer:resource:350931In a BiblioAsia Podcast episode, pastry chef Yeo Min talks about how she became interested in Chinese pastries and why she wrote the book Chinese Pastry School.Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-directors-noteurn:isomer:resource:393821Volume 22, Issue 3Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800Article https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-traditional-chinese-candyurn:isomer:resource:352152Traditional Chinese candy was once made fresh and sold by street vendors. Today, some of them have all but vanished.Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026urn:isomer:resource:393838Singapore’s James Bond and other stories in BiblioAsia Volume 22, Issue 3.Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800Issue https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-fish-head-curryurn:isomer:resource:352143Fish head curry is one of Singapore’s most iconic dishes—but it didn’t exactly come from India.Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-cooking-fish-head-curryurn:isomer:resource:349521Fish head curry is a popular (and expensive) restaurant dish today, but this wasn’t always the case. Spice queen Devagi Sanmugam remembers when only poor people ate it. She delves into how the dish came about, spells out why fish head curry uses different spices from meat curries, and explains how a clay pot makes all the difference.Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-hokkien-meeurn:isomer:resource:351091Accounts of its origins vary, yet this style of Hokkien mee remains unique to Singapore.Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-long-live-hokkien-meeurn:isomer:resource:349549A hawker centre favourite, Hokkien mee is making a comeback in Singapore, according to Dr Leslie Tay, author of the blog ieatishootipost. He also talks about the original guys who first made the dish in Singapore, what it takes to make a good plate of Hokkien mee and what is needed to ensure that hawker food continues to thrive in Singapore.Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-marching-through-history-100-years-of-the-singapore-police-force-bandurn:isomer:resource:392589The desire of the municipal authorities to have a band perform at publicly funded outreach events was the original impetus for what would become the Singapore Police Force Band.Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsHistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-kayaurn:isomer:resource:351074The sweet custard known as kaya actually belongs to a family of egg-based coconut milk confections called serikaya in Malay.Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-serikaya-family-of-kaya-based-confectionsurn:isomer:resource:349491What is commonly referred to as "kaya" belongs to a wider Malay repertoire of egg-based coconut confections known as serikaya. Award-winning writer and food historian Khir Johari tells the origins and meaning of serikaya, its common misconceptions and the different food he can concoct from the classic combination of eggs, sugar and coconut milk.Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-jefri-zain-is-singapore-james-bondurn:isomer:resource:393786A 1966 Malay spy thriller becomes a cinematic portrait of a newly independent nation.Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsCultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-the-long-surrender-the-experience-of-japanese-soldiers-interned-in-rempang-after-the-warurn:isomer:resource:393833After Japan’s surrender, many Japanese soldiers were shipped off to an island in Riau to await repatriation. There, they had to contend with harsh living conditions, malaria and food shortages.Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryWarArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-layered-stewed-sweetness-jackfruit-payasam-made-localurn:isomer:resource:347049Cookbook author and former restaurateur Dhershini Winodan tells us how she has adapted jackfruit payasam, a common Malayalee dessert, by using local elements like gula melaka. She also talks about growing up in the Telecoms quarters in Yio Chu Kang and how the Malayalee community in Singapore has changed over time.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-jackfruit-payasamurn:isomer:resource:351057Got some jackfruit to spare? Turn it into a delicious, creamy dessert that can be served hot or cold.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-new-books-on-singapore-historyurn:isomer:resource:389328Check out the new books in National Library Singapore.Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-crisped-the-baked-the-spiralled-curry-puffs-and-their-historyurn:isomer:resource:347014Award-winning writer Christopher Tan talks about how the Indian samosa led to the curry puffs we know today, as well as the different types of curry puffs – baked, spiralled, made with mutton fat, and with fillings like otak-otak and taro.Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-curry-puffsurn:isomer:resource:349846Before expensive imported butter became widely available, curry puffs were typically made with animal fat.Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-interpreting-the-turk-everyday-encounters-and-urban-memory-in-colonial-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:383151During the 19th and 20th centuries, Turkish imagery appeared in a variety of popular media in Singapore, reflecting the fascination with the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish world, as well as the island’s status as a cosmopolitan port city. Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureHistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-hakka-abacus-seedsurn:isomer:resource:349629Hakka dishes like thunder tea rice, yong tau foo and salt-baked chicken are familiar to most, but what about abacus seeds?Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-putting-together-a-family-recipe-of-abacus-seedsurn:isomer:resource:346978When chef, filmmaker and writer Sarah Huang Benjamin wanted to make Hakka abacus seeds for Chinese New Year, her relatives were of little help. The exact recipe was something the older generation had not passed on. Armed with her childhood memories of helping to make the dish, Sarah spent hours doing research and conducting countless experiments before she came up with something she was happy with.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800FoodPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/gambling-farms-horse-drawn-omnibuses-and-stately-homesurn:isomer:resource:367699Weekend gambling trips to Johor by horse-drawn omnibus were once commonplace. Blogger Jerome Lim uncovers surprising details that challenge what we know about Singapore’s past.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-from-pok-jui-to-jui-residences-the-story-of-the-national-aerated-water-companyurn:isomer:resource:367891In the 1950s, the National Aerated Water Company produced over 40,000 bottles of Sinalco a day. All that remains today is the shell of the company’s factory on Serangoon Road.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-untold-negotiations-behind-singapore-s-independence-in-1965urn:isomer:resource:367093For decades, the conventional wisdom was that Singapore was “kicked out” of Malaysia. However, newly released documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee's Albatross file reveal a more complex history. In this episode, Janadas Devan, the coordinator for the Albatross File project, tells us more about the secret negotiations by Singapore’s leaders to separate from Malaysia, even as many of them still hoped to preserve a looser federation.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-trends-in-malay-wedding-photography-1950s-to-the-early-1980surn:isomer:resource:347093The evolution of Malay wedding photography since the 1950s has been shaped by several factors, including the changing needs of newlyweds, professionalisation of the craft and services provided by the mak andam.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsCultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-singapores-experience-of-the-great-depressionurn:isomer:resource:322032When the Great Depression struck, Singapore’s trade-dependent economy faltered, tin and rubber prices plummeted, businesses closed and people faced immense hardship.Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-tang-dynasty-city-in-singapore-flying-swordsmen-terracotta-warriors-and-pagodasurn:isomer:resource:321535A film studio and theme park in Jurong opened to grand fanfare in 1992. Named Tang Dynasty City, it was modelled after the ancient city of Chang’an. Despite its underground terracotta warriors and other attractions, it struggled to draw visitors, as Senior Librarian Lim Tin Seng tells us.Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-3-oct-dec-2026-the-singapore-river-re-imaginedurn:isomer:resource:345592Across changing eras and artistic movements, artists have returned to the banks of the Singapore River to reflect on what the river means to them and what it means to be an artist.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026urn:isomer:resource:263444The forgotten terracotta warriors of Jurong and other stories in BiblioAsia Volume 22, Issue 2Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800Issue https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-directors-noteurn:isomer:resource:263454Volume 22, Issue 2Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800Article https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-the-perfect-brew--singapore-s-chinese-tea-cultureurn:isomer:resource:253548Singapore’s Chinese tea heritage tells a story where traditional practices, community and adaptive innovation have shaped an evolving yet enduring cultural legacy.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureFoodArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-the-lions-of-the-lion-cityurn:isomer:resource:253442In Singapore, a creature that never lived on the island became one of its most recognisable symbols – moving from legend and empire into national identity. This paradox opens a complex symbolic history in which heraldry is not mere ornament, but a visual archive of power.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-new-books-on-singapore-history--july-2026urn:isomer:resource:233058Check out the new books in National Library Singapore. Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-should-otters-get-a-singapore-passporturn:isomer:resource:230759In a BiblioAsia Podcast episode, editor-in-chief Jimmy Yap interviews environmental historian Timothy P. Barnard, who tells us how migrant animals such as otters came to be in Singapore and what makes them Singaporean.Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800NatureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-musical-evenings-in-changi-internment-campurn:isomer:resource:216439In the early months of the Japanese Occupation, a music-loving Japanese camp commander played a supporting role in musical activities that became a source of comfort and solace for the civilian internees.Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-an-ancient-chinese-city-in-jurong-urn:isomer:resource:202747Flying swordsmen, terracotta warriors and famous TV stars once captivated visitors at the former Tang Dynasty City.Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-the-days-leading-to-separation-in-lee-kuan-yews-own-words-urn:isomer:resource:201998The final agreement that separated Singapore from Malaysia had to be negotiated with great secrecy. After it was signed, senior leaders in Singapore had to be persuaded that there was no other solution.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-sengkang-from-fisheries-port-to-integrated-townurn:isomer:resource:197833Where the river once provided livelihoods, Sengkang has grown into a modern township that weaves together heritage, green spaces, integrated transport and excellent amenities to form a vibrant community.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-from-comics-to-culture-graphic-non-fiction-in-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:193831Graphic non-fiction has become increasingly mainstream in recent years thanks to a growing community of local writers and illustrators who are pushing the boundaries of their craft.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/the-different-faces-of-sang-kancilurn:isomer:resource:193644More than just a folktale, the adventures of Sang Kancil and its many variations are a glimpse into multicultural influences and values of the past.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-italian-merchant-lexicographer-who-once-owned-pulau-bukomurn:isomer:resource:151050Giovanni Gaggino came to Singapore around 1874 and lived here for more than 40 years. During that time, he set up a successful business providing supplies to vessels passing through Singapore, he wrote an Italian-Malay dictionary and once owned the Pulau Bukom. Writer Alex Foo tells us about the life of Gaggino and his legacy.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeoplePodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/northern-lions-of-singapore-s-chin-woourn:isomer:resource:192680Martial arts training, acrobatic skills, and warm, stuffy costumes – it’s not easy to be a Chin Woo Northern Lion dancer.Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-beyond-the-red-light-geylang-and-its-storied-lorongsurn:isomer:resource:192659Geylang and its infamous side lanes have a rich history that is often overshadowed by its reputation as a red-light district.Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPlaces and BuildingsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026urn:isomer:resource:181717The school milk scheme and other stories in BiblioAsia Volume 22, Issue 1Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800Issue https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-directors-noteurn:isomer:resource:182728Volume 22, Issue 1Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0800Article https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-a-wartime-friendship-lee-kip-leeurn:isomer:resource:182687During the Japanese Occupation, Lee Kip Lee and his family struck up an unusual friendship with a Japanese military judge who lived next door. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-new-books-on-singapore-historyurn:isomer:resource:182729Check out the new books in National Library Singapore.Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-singapore-s-early-japanese-community-on-a-rare-mapurn:isomer:resource:181589A rare Japanese-English street map of Singapore tells the forgotten stories of the Japanese community who left their mark here in the early 20th century. Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsHistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-no-mere-interlude-the-university-of-malaya-in-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:181530The University of Malaya in Singapore was a crucible for a new nation. Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800OrganisationsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-rodolfo-nolli-the-quiet-sculptor-who-shaped-a-cityurn:isomer:resource:181481Between the 1920s and 1950s, this Italian craftsman created a number of significant sculptural works that are still seen in Singapore today.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-p-ramlee-the-singapore-yearsurn:isomer:resource:174828The formative years of the legendary singer, actor and filmmaker P. Ramlee unfolded in Singapore, a city he not only helped to enliven through his presence and artistry but also captured with enduring vividness in his songs and films. Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-changing-times-time-zone-changes-in-singapore-since-1905urn:isomer:resource:150793Singapore's time zone has been changed at least seven times since 1905, including during the Japanese Occupation when it was synchronised to Tokyo time. Arts librarian Kenneth Tay explains the historical context for the time zone changes, the origins of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) system, and ways to measure time, including a rare atomic clock in a local laboratory.Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-toa-payoh-library-the-second-branch-libraryurn:isomer:resource:177418A beloved landmark in Toa Payoh Central, Toa Payoh Library is the second permanent branch library that opened in 1974 after the first was opened in Queenstown in 1970. In the last five decades, the library has developed to keep pace with the changing needs of the residents of Toa Payoh. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-got-milk-the-school-milk-scheme-in-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:166226In the 1970s and 1980s, primary school children were encouraged to drink milk in school. By the late 1980s, this initiative had curdled.Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-the-architect-of-separationurn:isomer:resource:166235Rather than being unilaterally kicked out in 1965, the decision that Singapore should separate from Malaysia was a mutual one, driven in large part by the efforts of Singapore’s Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee.Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-first-local-to-head-the-national-library-hedwig-anuarurn:isomer:resource:151657Hedwig Anuar was the first Malayan to head the National Library, a position she held for 23 years until 1988. She was also involved in the setting up the Singapore Book Council, National Archives of Singapore and Association of Women for Action and Research. Her daughter, Shirin Aroozoo, tells us about Anuar as a mother and a person, and about how her convictions about books, children's education and women empowerment were shaped by her upbringing and life events.Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeoplePodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-when-books-took-to-the-roads-of-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:177439Beginning in the 60s, libraries-on-wheels were already a familiar sight as they travelled around Singapore bringing books to schoolchildren and residents living in rural and suburban areas.Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-1965-singapore-agricultural-show-kallang-parkurn:isomer:resource:150680Initially planned to encourage people to eat more eggs, the agricultural show eventually morphed into a mega event showcasing the achievements of farmers in Singapore. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-the-great-clean-up-of-the-singapore-riverurn:isomer:resource:166258In a BiblioAsia Podcast episode, writer Samantha Boh tells us how civil servant Lee Ek Tieng and his team at the Ministry of Environment overcame the challenges of cleaning up the Singapore River.Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-dance-of-the-fire-dragonurn:isomer:resource:157011The Fire Dragon dance, which originated from China, is performed once every three years in Singapore by the Mun San Fook Tuck Chee temple in Geylang. Find out when it was first performed here and how the dragon is made, and learn more about the history of the temple that it calls home.Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-civil-servant-in-charge-of-clean-and-green-singapore-lee-ek-tieng-samantha-bohurn:isomer:resource:150838Lee Ek Tieng (1933–2025) was the civil servant who headed the clean-up of the Singapore River, had the foresight to modernise the sanitation system, and ensured water self-sufficiency for Singapore. Writer Samantha Boh tells us how he did it with his colleagues and earned their respect.Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeoplePodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-history-singapore-cinemasurn:isomer:resource:151019Once central to Singapore’s social and cultural life, cinemas went from being majestic, memorable landmarks to more utilitarian and prosaic halls housed in shopping malls.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-mass-weddings-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:151225Initially inspired by the “New Life Movement” in China, couples in Singapore would opt for mass weddings to save money.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800CultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-mrs-lee-choon-guan-woman-philanthropisturn:isomer:resource:151259One of Singapore’s first women philanthropists, Mrs Lee, née Tan Teck Neo, supported a wide range of charities.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-directors-noteurn:isomer:resource:151767Volume 21, Issue 4Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800Article https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-pan-eletric-collapse-singapore-stock-marketurn:isomer:resource:151355Pan-Electric Industries started out as Singapore’s fridge maker. However, its aggressive expansion and questionable practices led to enormous debts that caused a three-day closure of the Singapore and Kuala Lumpur stock markets in 1985.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800OrganisationsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-tay-seow-huah-simon-tay-podcasturn:isomer:resource:151645In a BiblioAsia Podcast episode, Simon Tay – lawyer, academic and winner of the 2010 Singapore Literature Prize – tells us how his Penang-born father came to play a giant role serving a newly independent Singapore.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-lost-family-silvestr-nemec-war-search-czech-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:151188Sparked by a box of old family documents, Jan Beránek embarked on an eight-year quest that brought him from a small Czech village to modern Singapore to uncover the life of his granduncle who died during the Japanese invasion of Singapore.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026urn:isomer:resource:151071A century of Singapore’s cinemas and other stories in BiblioAsia Volume 21, Issue 4Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800Issue https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-new-books-on-singapore-historyurn:isomer:resource:151304Check out the new books in National Library Singapore.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-air-conditioning-in-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:150692The humble air conditioner is an innovation that we take for granted today. But for the people of Singapore in the mid-20th century, it was a luxury that only the affluent could afford. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-seat-belts-mandatory-legislationurn:isomer:resource:151470How crash tests, mangled cars and grieving families drove Singapore’s battle to protect motorists’ lives.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-rediscovering-singapore-before-1800urn:isomer:resource:151426Piecing together the Singapore narrative before Raffles is not easy but the sources are there, just waiting to be discovered.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-john-miksic-singapore-archaeologyurn:isomer:resource:151082The “Indiana Jones” of Singapore archaeology died on 25 October 2025, aged 79.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-1918-influenza-pandemic-singaporeurn:isomer:resource:150677When influenza hit Singapore in 1918, many were sickened, hospitals were overwhelmed and everyday life was disrupted.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-double-coconut-coco-de-merurn:isomer:resource:150885In 2011, pollen from coco-de-mer trees in Singapore successfully fertilised female plants of this rare endangered species in Hawaii, thanks to the efforts of resourceful, determined botanists. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800NatureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-straits-times-180-anniversaryurn:isomer:resource:151616The first fake news. The illegal postwar edition. Newsmen turned presidents. The Straits Times has had an interesting 180 years.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0800OrganisationsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/people-2025-12-yip-yew-chong-artist-paintingsurn:isomer:resource:151832When landscapes and street markets disappear, visual artist Yip Yew Chong preserves them in their fading glory, recreating paintings from memory and archival photos.Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-days-before-air-conditioning-fiona-williamsonurn:isomer:resource:151655Before air conditioning was introduced in Singapore in the 1920s, temperature control was a matter of architectural design. Environmental historian Fiona Williamson tells us how people kept themselves cool before air conditioning arrived, why weather science was important to the colonial enterprise, and what environmental history can tell us about a city’s development. Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryPodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-exploring-sembawang-from-old-mapsurn:isomer:resource:157014Sembawang's history can be told through the many 19th century maps that have charted its changes over the years. Learn about the origins of its name, historical road networks, and transformation from rural plantations and villages into a naval base.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/culture-2026-1-hainan-lion-tiger-dance-guang-wu-cluburn:isomer:resource:150987The unexpected find of a cape with tiger markings in the storeroom of the Guang Wu Club led a martial artist and lion dance master to revive a lost art form in Singapore.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800CultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/people-2025-11-tracey-morton-writer-memories-mysteryurn:isomer:resource:151692Where past traumas echo in oral testimonies, writer Tracey Morton discovers both a window into Singapore's haunting past and inspiration for her crime fiction novel, Someone Is Coming (Monsoon Books, 2022).Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-queenstown-library-the-first-branch-libraryurn:isomer:resource:157056The Queenstown Library has been an iconic presence in the neighbourhood since it opened in 1970. It has played a vital role in the lives of residents and has kept pace with changing needs over the last five decades.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800Places and BuildingsVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-searching-for-family-in-the-shadows-of-war-jan-beranekurn:isomer:resource:151468Jan Beránek sets out to find out what happened to his granduncle, Silvestr Němec, who left his Czech village for Singapore in 1938 and died as a volunteer during WWII. He finds Silvestr’s story woven with that of the Bata Shoe Company, the Czechoslovak community and volunteer forces in Singapore.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeoplePodcast https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-gems-in-the-singapore-hokkien-huay-kuan-collectionurn:isomer:resource:157061Records donated by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan to the National Library offer unique perspectives into the history of the Hokkien community here. These records include land title deeds bearing pioneer businessman Tan Tock Seng's signature and rental records and receipts from WWII.Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryVideo https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-majulah-singapura-and-other-love-songsurn:isomer:resource:151842National anthems often start off as songs for different purposes. Singapore’s “Majulah Singapura” is no different.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-zubir-said-julian-wong-podcasturn:isomer:resource:151841In a BiblioAsia Podcast episode, music director Julian Wong reveals little-known details about the composer of Singapore’s national anthem. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-chung-kwang-tong-family-zupuurn:isomer:resource:150835Thanks to his ancestry book (zupu) and a lot of persistence, a practising Taoist priest was able to trace his ancestry all the way back to 1195.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-reading-habits-singaporeans-1960s-1990surn:isomer:resource:151420Reading surveys in the nation-building years reveal what Singaporeans read and why it mattered. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800CultureArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-singapore-time-zonesurn:isomer:resource:151570In 1982, Singapore adjusted its time zone to follow Malaysia’s national synchronisation. But this was not the only instance that Singapore had undergone time zone changes. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-dutch-burghers-ceylonese-malayaurn:isomer:resource:150891A murder mystery sheds light on the little-known story of the Ceylonese pioneers from the Dutch Burgher community who joined the subordinate government ranks in British Malaya.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800HistoryArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-writing-memoirs-meira-chandurn:isomer:resource:151824Writing a memoir involves personal experiences, digging deep into our memories and the emphasis on factual information. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-giovanni-gaggino-malay-italian-dictionaryurn:isomer:resource:150966The remarkable story of an Italian merchant who once owned Pulau Bukom and authored an Italian-Malay dictionary in colonial Singapore.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-luis-de-camoes-portugal-poet-lusiads-os-lusiadasurn:isomer:resource:151192Portugal’s most important poet was once imprisoned in Goa, saw fighting in Ternate, was shipwrecked near the Mekong Delta and worked as the Superintendent for the Dead and Missing in Macau. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-3-oct-dec-2023-new-books-singapore-historyurn:isomer:resource:151296Check out the new books in National Library SingaporeFri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800Collection HighlightsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-cheang-hong-lim-family-historyurn:isomer:resource:150800The Cheangs were once one of Singapore’s most illustrious Baba-Nonya families.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800PeopleArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-3-oct-dec-2025-women-photographers-singapore-malayaurn:isomer:resource:151816In the male-dominated world of 1940s and 1950s photography, three women in Singapore and Malaya found different ways to participate in photography as a studio photographer, a photojournalist and a photography enthusiast.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800ArtsArticle https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-negotiating-ob-markers-when-running-straits-times-cheong-yip-sengurn:isomer:resource:151290Former Straits Times editor-in-chief Cheong Yip Seng tells us how he negotiated OB markers with the government during his tenure (1987–2006), how he balanced the interests of the paper’s stakeholders, and which news story he nearly went to jail for.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800OrganisationsPodcast