Whenever you’re craving a new book to feed the mind, or you just need a quiet place to unwind, the library is definitely one of the best places to be. And for the community at Ang Mo Kio, they’ve had Ang Mo Kio Library as a safe space for the past 40 years.
In case you’ve missed the memo, Ang Mo Kio Library is relocating to AMK Hub at the end of the year, so we headed down to get one last look of this beloved space.
Image adapted from: NLB Singapore via YouTube
The idea of building a library in Ang Mo Kio first came up in 1978, which led to its opening in 1985. Called Ang Mo Kio Branch Library at the time, it was the 5th full-time branch library in Singapore.
The library was officially opened on 17th August 1985, with an opening ceremony graced by then MP of Ang Mo Kio Constituency, Yeo Toon Chai. However, it only opened to the public 2 days later, on 19th August.
Image credit: Dolby Thx via Facebook
Fast forward 10 years, and the National Library became a statutory board on 1st September 1995. That was when it gained its new name, Ang Mo Kio Community Library.
Image credit: Dolby Thx via Facebook
In March 2002, the library temporarily closed for renovation works. It then reopened on 26th January 2003.
2 brand new services were introduced with this reopening, one of which was the Indian Library Service. With that, Ang Mo Kio Library became home to the largest Tamil collection in a library at the time. Today, the honour goes to Woodlands Regional Library, after Tamil Cholai launched a few years ago.
Mind Matters was the other new service, with games, workshops, and cultural programmes to develop and stimulate the mind. In fact, it was said that each area in the library was designed to serve different mental functions too.
Until it closes on 31st July, Ang Mo Kio Library is one of very few standalone libraries left in Singapore.
As you walk up to Ang Mo Kio Library, you can tell it’s been here a while, with the old NLB logo on full display.
That being said, the library has been kept up to date too – after all, this 24-hour reservation locker sitting right at the entrance definitely wouldn’t have been around 20 years ago.
There are benches outside if you want to sit back with your new loans. Thankfully, there wasn’t much noise from the surrounding construction on this side of the building, at least when we visited.
Before you step inside, look up and take a lap around the building. The ceiling is covered in art, with tons of references to Singapore and Ang Mo Kio’s heritage.
And if you cycled here and were wondering where you could leave your bicycle, there’s a dedicated bicycle parking area on the side of the building.
Right as you enter the building, you might notice a bookshelf to your right. This is the book exchange corner, where you can leave your pre-loved books and pick up a new one.
Walk through the gantry and you’ll be greeted by a large foyer. In commemoration of the library’s relocation, they’ve put up a mini exhibition highlighting the library’s history.
Leave a message as you reminisce about your favourite memories here.
Head towards the wall on the left, and you’ll find the community wall, highlighting various organisations working towards good causes in the neighbourhood.
On the other side of the foyer, you’ll find the new arrivals shelf, because even with the upcoming relocation, the books still keep coming in. If you need recommendations, this shelf is a great place to start.
We found Mr Midnight in the children’s section’s Singaporean collection, in case you wanted a dose of childhood nostalgia.
Level 1 is the home for children’s reads, with books for kids of all ages available.
You’ll find colourful tables and chairs around the children’s collection for the little ones to enjoy their favourite reads at.
There’s even an activity room dedicated to the kiddos. One of the regular activities here is the storytelling session, which happens every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. You can catch the last 2 sessions here on 8th and 22nd July 2026, at 3pm – feel free to walk in, as no reservation is needed.
On the other side of Level 1, you’ll find the adult English fiction section, with seating and study areas for you to read and do your work under the natural light from outside.
If you want to guarantee a spot here, you can reserve a seat on the NLB App (App Store | Google Play), or on the NLB website.
We were surprised to spot Morbius DVDs in the great year of 2026. It’s Morbin’ time, folks.
Beyond these books, you’ll also find DVDs and magazines nearby. And yes, beyond the classics, the DVDs are also up to date with more recent releases.
Teens would probably head straight up to Level 2 to check out the teens collection. But beyond this section, there are also plenty of other collections on this level, from adult non-fiction books to graphic novels.
Sometimes, you can find traces of previous readers within the pages, like this bookmark someone must have forgotten to keep.
Other than English books, you can find books in Chinese, Malay, and Tamil too.
And if you’re looking for something that’s harder to find, you might be able to spot them here. The library also has a small collection of other media like maps and sewing patterns on the attachments shelf.
In front of the attachments shelf, you might notice this unique wooden entryway.
Image credit: Sweet Day’s Lifebook
The room it leads to was once dedicated to the Tamil collection, when the Indian Library Service was launched back in 2003.
Now, this room has been converted into the Learning Loft, with tables perfect for a study session with your bestie or your partner.
You probably wouldn’t pay much attention to a room you can’t even enter, but across from the study tables, you’ll find a meeting room called the Tomato Room. This unique name is a reference to Ang Mo Kio itself – while we don’t know how exactly the name “Ang Mo Kio” came to be, one popular theory is that it was inspired by the Hokkien term for tomato.
Beyond the learning loft, there are other seating areas all around this level, in case you wanted to get comfier.
You can also head over to the quiet reading room, with solo seats for some me-time in guaranteed peace and quiet.
When your work calls for some online research and you’ve left your laptop at home, fret not, as you can use the library’s multimedia stations, scattered across Level 2.
There’s even a print release station, no doubt useful for students and anyone without a printer at home.
Screenshot from: Facebook
Ang Mo Kio Library’s current building is slated to close at the end of this month, operating for the last time on 31st July 2026.
Of course, it can be hard to say goodbye to a beloved place that’s been around for so long, and residents have been lamenting the closure of this space that’s full of childhood memories.
Image credit: Link Reit
While it’s not exactly the same, residents won’t have to wait for long for their reading spot to return. AMK Hub will be the library’s new home, and it’s scheduled to reopen on 20th November 2026.
Artist’s impression of Ang Mo Kio Library.
Image credit: @nlbsingapore via Instagram
Look forward to a new and improved library design – highlights include tall wooden bookshelves similar to Tsutaya Bookstore in JB, as well as immersive and interactive experiences. Keep your eyes peeled for design features inspired by Ang Mo Kio and its landmarks too.
While it might feel a bit sad to see yet another beloved space go, we fortunately have a little time to relive our memories one last time. Take the time to visit Ang Mo Kio Library before it relocates.
Read more about our local libraries:
Photography by Andrea Chandra Putri.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local, NLB Singapore via YouTube, Sweet Day’s Lifebook
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