A Guide to the Punggol Regional Library, a Literary Labyrinth!
Singapore’s public library system is one of the reasons I love living in this country, and it’s been my mission to check out every single regional library there is. I recently visited the Punggol Regional Library, and all I can say is wow, I’m blown away!
It’s relatively new; it only opened to the public in 2023. But it has already impressed visitors. It has a nice, modern look, the newest technology (including 3D printers and robotics), and accessible features for people with special needs!
If you want to visit, here’s a detailed guide that will help you make the most of your trip.
Things to Know
Address: 1 Punggol Drive One, #01-12 One Punggol
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Website
How to Get Here
By MRT/LRT: Take the Punggol LRT line to the Sam Kee LRT Station. From there, walk to One Punggol, where the library is located. It should only take about five minutes or so.
By Bus: Ride any of the following buses: 84, 382, 382W, and 382G. Alight at Bus Stop #65489, which is right outside of One Punggol. Walking to the library should only take about five minutes.
By Car: Since the Punggol Regional Library is located inside a shopping mall, parking shouldn’t be a problem. The rates here are S$0.60 per 30 minutes from 4 am to 9:59 pm.
Fees
The Punggol Regional Library is free to enter, but since it’s part of the public library system, you might need to pay for membership if you’re a permanent resident or foreigner and want to borrow books and other materials. (Only Singaporean citizens are allowed to borrow for free.)
Here are the different membership programs you can subscribe to.
How to Borrow Books
Borrowing books from the Punggol Regional Library follows the same process as the other libraries. The only thing you’ll have to do is bring the book you want to the book-borrowing station.
The best part about this library is that it has a Borrow-n-Go section, a self-checkout service that makes borrowing books a lot faster.
Essentially, you just need to scan your ID or NLB eCard at the gantry, get your books and bring them to the gantry, then tap your ID or NLB eCard to confirm your loan(s) as you exit. So simple and easy!
Alternatively, you can use the NLB mobile app to reserve a physical book ahead of time and then just pick it up at the library. This is a convenient way of borrowing, especially if you don’t have time to look for the book on the shelves.
The app also allows you to borrow an ebook or an audiobook. Now, you won’t have to go to the library at all!
Facilities
The main thing that makes the Punggol Regional Library stand out is its slew of modern technologies and facilities. The library’s goal is to make the space conducive for children and people with disabilities, hence there’s assistive technology here!
Here are some of the most prominent facilities available here:
- Assistive Technology. You can find devices like joysticks, trackballs, large-key keyboards, and high contrast keyboards all over the library. These will help people with vision and mobility problems.
- Nursing Room. This room is for parents to be able to breastfeed their child or change their diaper without disturbing other patrons.
- Family Lounge. A separate room with a water supply and high chairs. This is intended for people who want to get a quick snack without having to leave the library.
- Calm Pod. It’s a room with padded walls and flooring. It’s meant to be a safe space for people with special needs. If they feel overwhelmed, they can come here to calm down.
- Wheelchair-accessible book borrowing stations. All Borrow-N-Go stations are wheelchair-accessible, making it easy for people in wheelchairs to check out books.
What to Expect
Level One
From: thenewageparents
Every floor is designed with a specific age group in mind. And starting with Level One, we have a whole floor dedicated to young children, especially those aged 12 years and under.
On this floor, you can find areas equipped with all sorts of toys—from dolls to robots to puppets. There’s even a section where kids can dress up and play pretend with others.
Of course, there are also shelves of books here; it is a library, after all. The books are placed facing outwards, and the shelves are low, so it’s easy for children to pick up the ones that pique their interest.
The highlight has to be the Stories Come Alive Room; it’s my nieces’ and nephews’ favourite area. Here, children can listen to stories, and the best part is that it uses multimedia, so there will be lights and sound effects that will make the experience even more immersive.
Level Two
From: nlbsingapore
Level Two is another floor dedicated to children, but this time, it’s for the older ones. This level features a wider book selection—not just fiction, but nonfiction as well—so children are encouraged to diversify their literary palates.
There’s even a World and Us Zone here, which is a section where books are organised by continents. This is such an amazing endeavour because I know that most of the books getting international exposure are American, so it’s nice to see that stories from other countries are being highlighted as well.
Another highlight of Level Two is the cluster of story pods. These pods are meant to push children to use their imagination, so there are various prompts on the wall, which the child can use in creating their own story.
Spark!Lab is another area on Level Two that stands out to me. I like to call this the room for future inventors. This is because inside, children are given a hypothetical problem, and they come up with solutions using the building blocks available to them. It’s pretty cool!
Level Three
From: publiclibrarysg
Level Three is probably my favourite section simply because it has the widest range of books—from the English books published by the big 5 publishers in America to the most niche Singaporean literature.
Chinese, Malay, and Tamil fiction books are also here, as well as a collection of comics. Long story short, this section has something for everyone!
Level Three also has Study Zone and Teenspace, two reading areas that are catered to students, but adults are welcome to use.
I personally love reading in the Teenspace because it has the squishy beanbags, but the peaceful nature of the Study Zone is much better, especially if I’m hard at work.
Level Four
From: publiclibrarysg
The Punggol Regional Library is more than just a place to read books; it’s also a place to embrace modern technology to learn through practice! Come to Level Four, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
On this floor, you can find MakeIT and ExperienceIT, which are sections that educate you on the latest technological trends as well as get hands-on with the newest tech.
MakeIT, in particular, is a hit among aspiring creators and inventors because it has laser cutters, 3D printers, and even robotics. And if you don’t know how to use these pieces of equipment, don’t worry, because there are sessions that will teach you.
Level Four also has the Business Resource, which is perfect for people with an entrepreneurial spirit. It educates you on how to start and manage a business.
This area also has enclosed pods and discussion rooms if you need space to host a meeting with your business partners.
Level Five
From: itsmebrireads
Level 5 is probably the one that you won’t likely visit because this is home to programme rooms, which are rooms that you can only access if there are events and workshops taking place here.
That said, if you do get the chance to come here, be sure to look out and enjoy the view of Punggol outside. It’s only when I did this that it finally sank in that this library is pretty massive!
Where to Eat: Artease Cafe
From: ilovepunggol
Did you forget to bring snacks when visiting the Punggol Regional Library? No worries; there’s the Artease Cafe! It offers coffee, gelato, bubble tea, savoury dishes, and sweet treats.
I usually stick to a slice of blueberry cheesecake because it’s more than enough to satisfy my cravings.