A new Rare Collections Gallery at the National Library Building on Victoria Street will open to the public for free by the end of 2027. Previously located on the 13th floor and accessible only through guided tours, the gallery will be relocated to the ground floor and expanded from 32 sq m to 140 sq m. Showcasing treasures such as an 1834 copy of the Singapore Chronicle And Commercial Register and an 1883 Chinese-Malay dictionary, it will also feature newly acquired shipper’s tickets—textile labels from the 1870s highlighting Singapore’s role as a trading hub. The revamped space, expected to attract 100,000 visitors annually, was made possible by a $2.3 million donation from the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust, marking the trust’s first contribution to the National Library Board (NLB).
The expanded gallery will house more than 20,000 significant research materials on Singapore and Southeast Asia, including titles published locally before 1946 and historical works about the region from as early as the 15th century. Highlights include the first edition of The Straits Times and rare early maps. Special exhibitions will complement the permanent displays, offering deeper insights into Singapore’s sociocultural, economic, and political development. According to the NLB, the gallery will be a valuable resource for researchers exploring historical trade, maritime links, and the textile industry’s global connections, particularly between the UK and Asia.
Visitors can also anticipate a more interactive experience, with artefacts presented alongside digital content and materials in audio, visual, and text formats to cater to diverse learning styles. Ms. Alicia Yeo, NLB’s director, emphasized that relocating the gallery to the ground floor aims to increase accessibility and foot traffic, encouraging greater engagement with Singapore’s heritage and culture. “The revamped Rare Collections Gallery marks a significant milestone in NLB’s efforts to enhance public engagement with Singapore’s cultural and historical narratives,” she said.
