Browse through the latest copies of hit anime series, like Dragon Ball Z by Akira Toriyama and Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family.
It’s here! The first self-service manga library by the National Library Board (NLB) is now open to all you fans of graphic novels and comics. Yes, you can now borrow from the vast collection of this pop-up at City Square Mall.
Located on the fourth floor of the mall, this manga library houses more than 5,000 manga comics and novels that are easily accessible for reading and borrowing. This pop-up by NLB is staying for six months; hence, if you and your friends are into manga, don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy these treats!
Here’s Why This Pop-Up Manga Library is a Must-Visit
Aside from the huge collection of the pop-up, the manga library in City Square Singapore has also adopted a more convenient way of borrowing copies of your favorite manga, the first-ever Grab-n-Go Manga Library. Instead of library cards, borrowers can simply scan their NRIC or NLB eCard to enter the area, pick their comic or book of choice, and then head to check out. That’s it! As simple as that, you can already borrow and enjoy the latest update from your favorite series.
Not only that, but instead of an NLB librarian, the pop-up is helmed by Mr. Kiasu, a robot—a concierge who mans the library in his booth. Developed by the local social robotics company, Dex-Lab, the robot is capable of providing book recommendations and guides on how to go about the Grab-n-Go system, as well as sharing other stories and tips on how to go about the Manga Library. He’s also able to make meaningful conversation in English, including some Singlish phrases.
On the other hand, as mentioned, this newly-opened pop-up manga library in Singapore holds a wide range of manga titles, including classics like Dragon Ball Z and Bleach and new series such as Komi Can’t Communicate, and the groundbreaking series, Spy x Family.
Captain V (the first comic published in Singapore in full color), Medium Rare (the first comic adaptation of a film in the country), and Bookworm Gang Adventures (a classic hit among the young readers of the 1990s) are also highlighted in the manga library.
According to NLB, around twenty percent of the collection, including Detective Conan and Pokemon Adventures RGB, was donated by Japanese publisher Shogakukan Asia. For starters, the titles of the graphic novels on display are arranged alphabetically. To make it friendly to children of all ages, the collection was evaluated beforehand by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
As per the Head of Planning and Development of NLB Winston Tan: “We want to reach out to new readers. We know that some people may find it too daunting to pick up a book, so hopefully, with manga’s pictorial representation, they might try it and find the story interesting.” He added, “I hope they will take the chance to come into the library and see what we have to offer. There are misconceptions that manga is only for children and teens, but we hope that they can be exposed to it and give it a try. There are popular titles here, and I hope they can find what suits them.” Some of the popular titles included in the expansive collection are Assassin’s Creed: Blade of Shao Jun and Pokemon Adventures (Red, Green, and Blue).
As Chief Executive of NLB, Ng Cher Pong puts it, “Many of our patrons enjoy creative and inspiring works like manga, and we are happy to collaborate with our partners to bring this collection to everyone.”
Visit the Manga Library in City Square Singapore Now!
With its Grab-n-Go Manga Library procedure, it is easy to borrow manga and comic books from the pop-up library. After checking out the books, a confirmation email will be sent to you. Also, it is important to note that every individual is only allowed to borrow up to eight titles.
To be guided, feel free to browse the digital copies and list of available titles in the eManga collection of the NLB Mobile app and eResources. See more details here.
Manga Library in City Square Singapore is open daily (up to six months) from 10 am to 10 pm. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Images credit: National Library Singapore
