Bedok Community Library

Libraries feel so abandoned these days. You no longer see troops of school students going in here as compared to many years ago. How time have change. This has always been my most frequented community library during my school days. I remember my friends and I would rush off to this library after school when there’s a new project, fearing a fellow student grabbing books of those of the same project topics. Getting a table and seat too was a challenge back then.
But now, everything is of the total opposite. Now with the world of iPads and tablets, people will look at you funny if you tell them you’re going to the library.
Of course, hardcore bookworms still roam this place. The interiors have not change much since those decades ago. That old staircase that leads you to the second level is still the same as it was. I’ve been here since the days where you have to stand in long queues to get your books stamped by librarians. Now it’s all self-​service scanning.
Although I have to point out that NLB can improve on their book search system on their computers. It gets pretty annoying when you search for a book with the given code, only to find its in the form of a CD-​Rom. After getting back on the computer, I re-​check if I overlooked the ‘type of media’… nope. No such thing. They really did not mention it. Pfft!

One of the best community libraries in Singapore and a favourite hangout spot of mine on weekends when I don’t have anything much to do. It’s usually quite empty and there’s always seats available so you can just waltz in, grab a book and sit down to escape the wilting heat outside.
They have a good selection of fiction books for a community library so you can find most of the newer stuff here as well. And they’re the only library in Singapore (at the time of writing this) that offers Kindles and iPads for loan (but these are usually loaned out all the time)