Community Library

Marine Parade Community Library was officially opened on 10 November 1978 by Mr Goh Chok Tong, then Senior Minister of State for Finance. The library was relocated to the Marine Parade Community Building on 28 May 2000 at an official ceremony attended by Prime Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong.

Library Facade

The library occupies three floors within the building that also houses the Marine Parade Community Club and The Necessary Stage. It covers an area of 3,534 square metres and serves residents of the South East areas of , Braddell Heights, -, Fengshan, Serai, Joo Chiat, Kampong , , Kaki Bukit, MacPherson, Marine Parade, Mountbatten, , and Siglap.

Features Marine Parade Community Library adopts the concept of Discovery through Learning, which promotes learning in an informal and unstructured environment. In support of this, the library introduces a new service – Kids Discover, that emphasises learning through a hands-on approach. Located on the second level, the Kids Discover zone has interactive exhibits for children from ages 6 to 12 to explore and learn while having fun in the process. Three main themes of water, earth and sound have been specially selected to stimulate children’s interest to find out more through books, multimedia and conducted talks on these themes.

Interactive Exhibits at Kids Discover

The library also has a host of other services such as video and CD-ROM lending, multimedia, music posts, automated borrowing stations, 24-hour bookdrop and photocopying, all geared to enhance learning through discovery.

Design and Layout The building, which has a distinctive postmodern feel, has become a landmark for the Marine Parade region since its completion. The natural illumination through glass walls on every level pervades the library with a sense of ease and openness.

Each floor is planned with a theme of pro-active learning:

Level One: This level promotes learning through lifestyle with its collection on Adult fiction and magazines as well as a café.

Mezzanine Level: This floor supports learning through the different media such as music posts, videos and CD-ROMs as well as the Young People’s collection.

Level Two: This level houses the Children’s section where you will find books for children, Kids Discover exhibits, pre-schoolers corner and an activity room.

Level Three: This floor houses the Adult and Reference collection, collection, newspapers as well as the multimedia stations.

Flat-screen monitors for the Multimedia Stations

Programme highlights Kids Discover: a platform for children to learn about the wonders of Science – Water, Earth and Sound through programmes and activities are held at the Activity Room, Level Two.