Image of immersive story experience created with Canva AI.
For the Choose Your Own Adventure module I selected Global Libraries as my focus. While I was inspired by many beautiful libraries around the world, and wondered how long it would take to learn Finnish, I kept returning to one audacious and awe-inspiring effort: Singapore’s Library & Archives Blueprint (LAB25).
Good gracious, holograms anyone?!
It seems that if you can dream it you can find it in a Singapore library thanks to LAB25. There’s stunning and inspirational architecture, augmented reading, immersive time-traveling experiences, and StoryGen. Converse with a book? Yep, you can do that too.
- To create a “Learning Marketplace”: The NLB is evolving its libraries into a national platform for lifelong learning. This involves integrating physical spaces with digital offerings, using data and machine learning to provide personalized learning recommendations, and fostering communities for patrons with similar interests.
- To nurture an “Informed Citizenry”: In an age of information overload and polarization, LAB25 aims to cultivate thoughtful individuals who read widely and reflect deeply. Initiatives like the National Reading Movement and the S.U.R.E. (Source, Understand, Research, Evaluate) program are designed to help the public access diverse perspectives and be more discerning about the information they consume.
- To inspire “Singapore Storytellers”: The blueprint seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation for Singapore’s heritage by gathering, preserving, and enabling the discovery of local stories. Through technology like generative AI, the NLB is finding new ways to engage the community and encourage storytelling.
- To be an “Equaliser”: Building on its tradition of making information accessible, the NLB is bridging social and digital divides. The blueprint outlines efforts to equip seniors with digital skills, reach out to children from low-income families through the kidsREAD initiative, and make services more accessible for people with disabilities. The Punggol Regional Library, for example, was designed as a “fully-inclusive library” to pioneer integrated services for persons with disabilities.
I must admit it’s a bit hard for me to do this post. Here in Michigan we just went through a few nail-biting weeks to see if our interlibrary loan system would survive the state budget process. But in Singapore they are moving into the library future at hyperspeed, with a national commitment. It’s a good reminder that as we future librarians look ahead we need to learn from Singapore’s example and dream big.
Here’s another look at what libraries look like when (at least it appears) the whole country is supporting the effort!
References
LAB (Libraries & Archives Blueprint). (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/about-us/About-NLB/LAB-Libraries-and-Archives-Blueprint
Reimagining classic tales and the library experience with Generative AI on AWS. (2024, February 8). SG About Amazon; About Amazon Singapore. https://www.aboutamazon.sg/news/aws/reimagining-classic-tales-and-the-library-experience-with-generative-ai-on-aws
Singapore, N. L. B. [@NLBsg]. (2024, February 1). Discover Singapore at Central Public Library [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcKzaAFGn_I
Teng, S. C. (2025, January 24). Speak to fictional characters, create your own classics at NLB’s new generative AI installations. ST. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/speak-to-fictional-characters-create-your-own-classics-at-nlbs-new-gen-ai-installations
Using Innovative Technologies to Reimagine Libraries and Archives Services in the National Library Board, Singapore. (n.d.). IFLA. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.ifla.org/news/using-innovative-technologies-to-reimagine-libraries-and-archives-services-in-the-national-library-board-singapore/
With Spectacles powered by Snap OS, NLB, Snap and LePub Singapore Explore Immersive AR Experiences with Books and Stories. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/about-us/press-room-and-publications/media-releases/2025/Spectacles
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7 thoughts on “Reflection: Hyperlinked Environments – Singapore’s LAB25”
@hharrisbrady This is amazing – thank you for highlighting LAB25. That first video was something! I will add it to the global libraries CYOA page.
Thank you – I appreciate all the inspiring library examples from around the world. I will never cease to be amazed by libraries, and how we all do the same thing in so many different ways. 🙂
Hi Heather,
Similar to you, I focused on global libraries and the type of programs, services, and participatory services they provide are advanced and different than U.S. libraries. I think this is attributed to the lack of funding and the political landscape that we are in. The resources that libraries provide are entirely reliant on the amount of funding they receive from the state and federal government. It is annoying that libraries are constantly being defunded and it only gets worse every year to the point that libraries have opened bookstores to sell donated books, which then goes into funding summer reading and supplies for crafting events. As much as I appreciate the bookstores, I do think that funding should be mainly coming from the government.
Hi Camillia – Thank you very much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I agree with you that libraries are critical and should be sure of funding. There are, of course, many different models of funding across the U.S. I used to be very envious of Ohio’s sales tax based system, because the Ohio libraries are beautiful. Over the past year, however, as I watched them come very close to losing all their funding, I’ve reconsidered. In Michigan we have very localized millages, some are even perpetual (with resets from time to time). While those have their downside, it is highly unlikely that Michigan could lose all of its libraries in one fell swoop.
Hi Heather,
In my post this week, I also compared and contrasted the similarities and differences between U.S. libraries and global libraries. The differences between them shocked me. I think global libraries have better services and technology because they have more funding than the libraries here. I have gone to many libraries in other states outside of California and they are all different. Some have more modern technology while others may not. I attribute this to the funding that libraries receive from their state governments. I absolutely dislike it when politicians discuss defunding libraries because ‘they are a waste of money’. In my opinion, libraries provide people open-access to books, computers, printing services, WiFi, etc. These are all services that many people cannot access outside the facility due to personal finances. Anyone who says libraries are useless have likely never visited a library. While it is great that many libraries have bookstores to help fund library services and programs, I do think that it is the job of both the federal, state, and local governments to cover most of the expenses. I think libraries should be governed by people who understand and worked in libraries because they known what services libraries need. I am hoping that in the future, we will have something like LAB25.
Hi, Heather!
Wow, this library is so cool! It reminds me of an interactive museum instead of a library. A few features that stood out to me were the interactive storytelling room and the holograms. I would love to see these features used in a program. I also understand your perspective and frustration. My library system is the next state over from yours, and we are going through budget cuts, so a library like this seems decades away. Thank you for highlighting this library!
Hi Jenn – thank you for being such a loyal commenter 🙂 I’ve been somewhat sporadic because we are in the middle of a strategic plan at work but I will try to be better! As I try imagine what life will be like three years from now it’s very difficult. But I would like to think what wonders we could dream up given the resources. 🙂