"Libraries are not made; they grow."
Augustine Birrel(1850-1933)
Overview
Stamford Raffles founded Singapore in 1819 with the vision that the small trading post would become a vibrant and prosperous British colony. Extending beyond the commercial interests of the British East India Company, his plans included the establishment of an educational institution that would be the centre of knowledge of the Far East.
Raffles' goals for this institution were supported by Dr. Robert Morrison - a missionary, Chinese scholar and educationist. The Singapore Institution would serve to educate the sons of the Company's servants and the children of local leaders. It would also collect works reflecting the customs and culture of the region. This was the first step towards a formal library. Although the foundation stone of the Institution was laid in 1823, it would be more than a decade before it became a reality.