Timely gift to NLB as it marks its 30th Anniversary in 2025
Singapore, 27 January 2025 – A generous $2.3 million donation from the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust will see the National Library Board’s (NLB) Rare Collections Gallery quadruple in size by end-2027 following a major revamp. The new Rare Collections Gallery will feature a curated collection of rare materials on Singapore and the region, from both the National Library and National Archives, and these will be paired with interactive digital content to offer a multi-modal experience for patrons.
The current gallery, housed on the 13th floor of the National Library Building, will be relocated to the first floor for increased accessibility. With the donation from the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust, NLB will build a larger gallery, quadrupling in size from 32sqm to 140sqm, and will be able to showcase more of the nation’s treasures. There will also be regular special exhibitions complementing displays within the Rare Collections Gallery. Paired with the digital experiences, these innovative features will provide fresh avenues for visitors to discover and learn more about Singapore Stories, and gain a stronger appreciation and understanding of our heritage and identity.
The Rare Collections Gallery features some of the most significant research materials on Singapore and Southeast Asia, offering invaluable insights on the early sociocultural, economic and political development of the region. Enhanced by donations from institutions and individuals, the collection has over 20,000 items and growing. It is primarily composed of titles published in Singapore, Malaya or the Straits Settlements before 1946, as well as titles about Singapore and the region published elsewhere before 1900.
The Trust will also be supporting the acquisition of a shipper’s tickets collection, textile labels commonly used in the exporting of goods since 1800s. The unique collection showcases the global cloth trade and Singapore’s position as a trading hub in early 19th and 20th century, and will serve as a rich resource of researchers studying historical trade and maritime links, as well as the political and socio-cultural dimensions and development of the textile industry in the UK and Asia.
The Trust is administered by HSBC Trustee (Singapore) Limited and was set up in memory of Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Mr Peter Lee, a grandnephew, is the adviser of the Trust who makes recommendation to the Trustee on donation matters.
Mr Lee, said “The new gallery space will increase accessibility to and awareness of NLB’s rare collections. The shipper’s tickets collection is a unique showcase of global trade in the 19th century, highlighting Singapore’s pivotal role in this history.”
Ms Sharnika Silva, Head of Trust and Fiduciary Services, South East Asia, HSBC Trustee (Singapore) Limited, said: “Since 1946, HSBC Trust & Fiduciary Services has been a trusted partner in helping families preserve their wealth and legacy across generations through private and philanthropic trusts. As trustee, we are proud to carry forward the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust’s mission to advance education, art and heritage with these meaningful donations to NLB.”
Mr Tommy Leung, HSBC Head of Global Private Banking, South Asia and a board member of HSBC Trustee (Singapore) Limited, said: “This donation reflects the Trust’s commitment to creating a lasting impact for future generations to appreciate Singapore’s rich cultural heritage.”
NLB Chief Executive Ng Cher Pong said: “This is a special year for NLB because as a statutory board, we will turn 30 in September and we are grateful for the early birthday gift from the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust. With this generous donation, we can build new a Rare Collections Gallery to tell the story of Singapore’s evolution through sharing the most valuable materials from the National Library and National Archives, our two national memory institutions. This donation, ahead of NLB’s 30th anniversary in September, is a gift to the nation too as we celebrate 60 years of independence this year.”
NLB will mark its 30th anniversary (NLB30) later this year, with a lineup of programmes to celebrate reading, learning and discovery with everyone. For example, READ30, which is part of nationwide campaign READ! Singapore, will see pop-up Nodes located from the National Library Building to Orchard Road in July 2025 that will feature book recommendations by notable Singaporean personalities. There will also be a special Read! Fest edition, located at the National Library Building Plaza, including a digital campaign, titled #HowDoYouRead that will feature book recommendations of well-known personalities. This will lead up to the Love Our Libraries and Archives (LOLA) event in September, where everyone can join in for NLB’s birthday party. More details on NLB30 and the gallery’s opening date will be announced closer to the date.
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About National Library Board
The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections in Singapore and the region.
NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).
For more information, please visit the NLB website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.
For media queries, please contact:
Laura Cheng
Weber Shandwick
+65 9650 7074
lcheng@webershandwick.com
Zhi Min Koh
Weber Shandwick
+65 9002 6323
ZKoh@webershandwick.com
Annex
Annex A: Highlights of the Adrian Wilson Collection of Shippers Tickets