1. I usually go to my favourite shelf, 120, where there are Junior Non-Fiction books to borrow my favourite non-fiction books.

2. I love the grassy patch cuz I can relax and read peacefully without distractions, unlike other libraries.

3. I love collecting book bugs here.

4. I can walk to this library, it is so convenient, unlike having to go to a whole shopping mall to find a library.

5. I can always find books that I want here. I read the whole St Clare and Harry Potter series!

Also, NLB and our MP cannot just assume there will be more loans and more visitorship in the new library at Tanjong Katong Complex. On weekdays, there might be children and adults actually visiting and borrowing the books. But on weekends, especially Sunday, everywhere is full of helpers, and I'm not sure the helpers will borrow the books. They will probably just go into the library to sit down and have a nice chat. C.R.

To MP Tin Pei Ling: If you care about your constituents, please help us keep Geylang East Library in its current space or collaborate with NLB to convert the Geylang East Library building into a mixed-used facility hosting a library. NLB seems insistent on moving, is it possible to work with them? The Geylang East neighbourhood is lacking in facilities like a community gym, indoor exercise spaces such as badminton/table tennis/basketball, quiet study areas. Can the building not be converted to a multi-use community space with NLB collaborating with People’s Association to use the space partly for Community Club? Why do we need to spend taxpayers’ money to build spanking new community clubs from scratch? Geylang East Community Centre has been closed for nearly ten years. Your constituents in Geylang East needs more facilities. As it is, Geylang East is a greying estate, if the library gets moved, the situation will worsen because young families will not be attracted to the estate given the lack of services. Younger families who move into the neighbourhood are attracted to the library as a resource and space to nurture their children to grow to love reading. By removing the library, the estate will find it even harder to rejuvenate itself. In time to come it will be no surprise if primary schools and preschools start to shut around the area. There are many low-incomes households in the Geylang neighbourhood. A library, to these families and children, can provide a safe and conducive place to learn. By moving this space into a mall, further away where they’d have to pay money to take a bus or train to, it bleeds into their finances and access. MP Tin Peiling, if you care for your residents, if you care to revitalise your estate, please do something for your community. (T)

I go to the library almost every day to read and write. I can focus at the library better than I can at home, because I do not have WiFi on my laptop at the library, and because I am away from things and people demanding my attention at home.

I use the library to borrow books I've always wanted to read before deciding whether to buy them, or books that I know I will only need for a short period, such as travel books. I borrow DVDs of movies I want to watch. I donate books when I no longer need them.

Even if I can never read all the books in the library, I enjoy being surrounded by shelves of them simply because the sight of books makes me happy.

I felt the same way about the Lifelong Learning Institute library. I loved everything about that space, except that I could never find a table to sit and work at, because it was always too crowded. Then one day it was closed down because "no one ever goes there". I chose to live in this neighborhood in part because I loved being between two libraries. Now both are being taken away, without any consideration for the people who used them regularly.

The only reason the Geylang East library seems "empty" is that there are large spaces without tables and chairs. Does the library expect people to sit on the floor? It could easily add 30 tables and chairs, and (based on the way regular patrons jostle for space) I am quite sure they would fill up.

2) Libraries exist to serve a community, not to maximise foot traffic. As others have mentioned, foot traffic is artificially inflated in malls. If foot traffic were all that mattered, then why have POSB branches in less densely populated areas? They would get more foot traffic in malls. Why have SAM or AXS or CashCard top-up machines in less densely populated areas? They would get more foot traffic in malls. Why have garbage bins or public toilets in less densely populated areas? They would get more foot traffic in malls.

3) Libraries in malls are generally smaller, and I would wager that moving Geylang East library to Tanjong Katong Complex will reduce its size. Reducing the size of a library is like reducing the size of a park or reducing the size of an airport terminal. It decreases the quantity and quality of services provided.

Otherwise, the government could build something like Bedok Heartbeat at the site of the Geylang East library. There are many HDB apartments nearby, but no place for the community to gather.

Moreover, when I try to borrow a book, I often find it is no longer available, even though it was available a couple years earlier. This makes me believe that NLB is quietly reducing the range of books available over time, without notifying the public. Moving libraries to malls may be one reason why this is happening.

It is our childhood haven and it means a lot to us.

The library is also an important feature of the neighbourhood where many interactions take place between members of the community. Neighbours often greet each other fondly during chance encounters at the library. I myself have been happily surprised to bump into friends on occasion. A number of library patrons are also familiar with and can be seen exchanging greetings with the staff when they enter.

Geylang East Library is uniquely beautiful due to its location, where it is surrounded by lush greenery. The greenery theme is mirrored on the inside in the form of green reading spaces and many potted plants that create an indoor garden experience. The library is also very accessible as it is within walking distance of many thousands of homes, is near Aljunied MRT station and has a spacious carpark just behind.

Please do not close such a beautiful and valuable space.

(1) The current location of Geylang East Library is preferable to Tanjong Katong Complex. The library is currently situated in the middle of large residential estates making it very accessible to surrounding residents, including thousands who live within walking distance. It is a short walk from Aljunied MRT station which further enhances its accessbility. In contrast, Tanjong Katong Complex is in the middle of a shopping belt, and is surrounded by numerous malls with not much housing in the immediate vicinity. If the library is moved, many of the current surrounding residents who are low-to-middle income and less mobile, including elderly and young children, as well as students from nearby schools who frequent the library, will find it a hurdle to travel to the new location. They will likely stop visting the library or not go as frequently. This will result in a loss of quality of life to the thousands of residents who currently live in the library's vicinity. Schoolchildren who currently frequent the library after school may also engage in less productive activities instead.

(2) The closure of such an important facility will hollow out the neighbourhood, and risks lowering surrounding property values and housing resale prices. Geylang East is already an old neighbourhood with not many public amenities in the area. It can scarcely afford to lose such a key public facility.

(3) Closing the existing library will deprive residents of a well-loved community focal point that fosters social connection, interaction and a sense of community. Currently, residents and neighbours can be seen greeting each other fondly when they bump into each other at the library. There is a clear sense of community that can be observed between users of the library. The closure of the library will deprive residents of this community focal point which has helped to foster social interactions and connection in the area for many years.

(4) Closing the library will also destroy one of the most uniquely conducive spaces for reading and studying in all of Singapore. This should concern all Singaporeans. Beyond the neighbourhood, Geylang East Library is known for being one of the best and most conducive spaces for reading, learning and contemplation in the whole of Singapore, owing to its location in a quiet and peaceful residential area with minimal distractions. In contrast, the new location at Tanjong Katong Complex is in a mall which will greatly increase the level of distractions and noise in and around the library if it is moved there. The area around Tanjong Katong Complex is also frequently congested with vehicular and human traffic, which makes it unpleasant to travel to.

The official explanation given for moving the library, which is to increase visitor numbers by situating it in a mall, does not serve the fundamental purpose of a library. A library should first and foremost serve the community by providing a peaceful and conducive space for reading and studying. Moving the library into a mall may increase its visitor numbers, but many of these visitors are likely to be there for reasons other than to read and borrow books. For example, another resident has mentioned that she goes to Vivocity Library to enjoy aircon while she waits for her Haidilao number to be called. Many visitors to mall libraries can also be observed to be there simply because it is a convenient air-conditioned place to sit down and use their phones etc. Such users, while they may bump up the foot traffic statistics, do not actually have need of a library.

If it is really not possible to keep the existing Geylang East Library open in its current form, then please look at how it can at least remain in part in the current building (e.g. perhaps a more streamlined version of the current library without the large meeting halls on the 3rd floor).

Please do not let what happened in Bukit Merah repeat itself in Geylang East. When Bukit Merah Library was closed in 2018, the residents were promised a mini-library and another 12 reading corners that were supposed to hold 5000 books and 250 seats. Today, the mini-library has become a book giveaway where a few old library books are being given away to the public. The 12 reading corners are nowhere to be found. Please do not promise to build a mini-library or reading corners in Geylang East that will become unusable in a few short years.

Closing it would cost more than shelves — it would cost a culture. Let’s champion more libraries like Geylang East, not fewer.

We can be more creative in the use of this library. It has schools nearby but ask yourself why utilisation is still relatively low.

Building has lots of spaces that’s not well utilised. Younger or up to-date crowds like a place to hangout: this library is not one of them because it is outdated and not cool. Building another one at the mall without a rethink on this matter is not wise. Why not consider allowing beverages/ snacks with being able to co-exist with borrow/browse/ hanging out there? Why is it not viewed as a family space, youth hangout, young adults area. Our current concept of a library is so outdated. If it’s a resource area, why can’t it be made more accessible for learning, research and so much more. :(

Neighbourhood libraries has the potential to be a drawing magnet if folks wants a place to belong, chill or have their work completed there. But what useful resources can a current traditional library offer - not much. Where r the printers, multi-media machines, can I borrow a laptop / tablet to use, can I prepare a resume in the library, can I research on my stock investments, my school project, etc ?

To our MP: Its disappointing that our MP was not present in 2 of the engagement sessions (one on 24 Jul, and another earlier session) between NLB and the residents.

Yes, moving to Tanjong Katong Complex will reach out to a larger catchment. But there was already a library at the lifelong learning institute that was closed less than half a year ago! Why take away our library? That's a bad deal losing 2 libraries.

And that library was less than 5 mins walk away from tanjong katong complex. What's the point of opening another library?

I was at the earlier engagement and the real reasons for the move were not disclosed when prompted. 

If the library must move: 

I am all for anything except for another small block condo over there. I understand that land here is valuable being close to the city and an MRT. But there is already one Sims Edge and one Centra Heights. Going for dollars and cents via a land sale is not a good look.

For the community - its a place where kids can come to focus and study without the allure from the mall (arcades, indoor playground, shopping). It's a place catered to adults and retirees who really want to read, unlike visitors that enjoy the air-con while waiting for their movie timings or their hai di lao queue number. Its a safe space away from the crowds of foreign workers that can be noisy and distracting. Its their right to their own entertainment and relaxing time - well that's what the malls like PLQ, Singpost Centre and Paya Lebar Square are for.

It helps foster a reading culture in my family. My 3 year old daughter visits the Geylang East Library at least twice a week and we max out our borrowing quota with our cards. She enjoys picking out her own books, and I enjoy picking out books for her and myself too. I can tell that everyone there has the intent to read, study and/or borrow books.

Besides students, there are also so many elderlys who go there to have their daily cup of news and read of the books, which may make the library better and more utilized elsewhere

These teens choose to go to the library after school due to its proximity and safe space. They spend time socialising and doing homework. A strong and positive influence for each other.

What will these teens do after the library moves further away? With 1 less choice, will more of these teens end up loitering around instead? Vulnerable to temptations instead? Sure, the government bans vapes and enablers, the teens still get access.

The role of this community library goes beyond the statistics of readership and trend in number of books borrowed.

Why can't the library think of hosting more activities to attract these teens to the library instead? The activity room is completely under utilised. The location being so close to a school gives advantage.

Why is the first conclusion to move and consolidate? Where is the fight instead of the easy flight? Where is the resilience and resolve to turnaround your statistics. Surely our Founding Fathers want to see a resilient leadership.

This is really poor leadership and extremely disappointing.