Weighing Intangible Civic and Heritage Value of Public Library Against Economy Value of Land

64 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what framework weighs the intangible civic and heritage value of a public library against the economic value of the land; (b) how is this value calculated and factored in the relocation of Ang Mo Kio and Geylang East public libraries; and (c) when does land optimisation yield to preserving non-commercial public spaces for knowledge and community purposes.

Mrs Josephine Teo: My response will also cover the matters raised in the Oral Question by Mr Andre Low, which is scheduled for a subsequent Sitting¹. If the questions have been addressed, it may not be necessary to proceed with the Questions for future Sittings.

I thank the Members for raising questions regarding our libraries. I have shared in my reply to Ms Tin Pei Ling's Adjournment Motion yesterday that libraries play a fundamental role as custodians of knowledge and serve as critical community institutions. Our libraries are key anchors for the community that must remain accessible.

The revamp and relocation of libraries are in line with the National Library Board's (NLB's) Libraries of the Future (LOTF) Masterplan, a 15-year plan that charts the next phase of development for public libraries from 2017 to 2030.

As part of this plan, NLB's strategy has been to move standalone libraries to locations which have easy access to transportation hubs and networks. These locations, which may include shopping malls and integrated hubs, provide convenience to library users and ensure that public libraries are accessible to as many residents as possible. By siting public libraries at convenient locations, at least 80% of the resident population stay within 15 minutes by public transport.

The decision to relocate any library is not taken lightly. NLB does so in consultation with the relevant Government agencies and community partners. NLB takes into consideration various factors, such as land use plans, accessibility to major transport nodes, the number of residents it can best serve, the library's age, the number of years since the last major renovation and the suitability of the available space. Ultimately, NLB makes the decision based on how it can best serve and reach more patrons with its services and collections.

NLB's experience has shown that these decisions have led to more people visiting libraries. Mall libraries receive about 30% more visitors per month on average than standalone libraries over a three-year period. The average monthly visitorship of a mall library is about 60,000. In contrast, the monthly average visitorship to Ang Mo Kio Library and Geylang East Library are only about 50-60% of that. Relocating Ang Mo Kio Library and Geylang East Library to nearby malls will enable NLB to serve more residents.

The Government understands that public libraries hold social relevance and fond memories for many people. Apart from conserving Queenstown Library, NLB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority will work together with stakeholders on ways to celebrate the legacies of libraries that are relocated. This includes heritage interpretation in various forms, such as through digital documentation; physical markers, like storyboards, and sensitive urban design to retain a sense of place and character.