Current Exhibitions
Find out about National Library's current exhibitions.
Last updated 3 August 2026
The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified
Open to the public – book your tickets now!
Permanent exhibition
10:00am - 9:00pm (Closed on Public Holidays; Closes at 5.00pm on eve of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year)
Level 10, National Library Building
Revisit the moments that led to Singapore's separation from Malaysia – in the footsteps of our founding leaders. The Albatross File: Singapore's Independence Declassified exhibition takes you behind closed doors, into the complex journey from merger to separation.
Based on the book The Albatross File: Inside Separation and supplemented by newly declassified documents and oral history accounts, explore the uncertainty, conviction, and tensions that defined 1963 to 1965, leading to the birth of an independent Singapore.
Book Havens of Bras Basah: Curiocity
Permanent Exhibition
10:00am - 9:00pm
Immersive Room, Central Library
Nestled in one of Singapore's oldest districts, the Bras Basah Bugis precinct holds a rich history as a hub for learning, publishing and reading.
Witness the transformation of the precinct from pre-war days to the present through an immersive projection with Augmented Reality.
Singapore Alcove
Permanent Exhibition
10:00am - 9:00pm
Central Library
Step into Singapore Alcove, where the Singapore Collection is seamlessly integrated within thematic exhibits on our heritage and literature.
The inaugural exhibition, Lepak Landscapes: Life and Leisure in Singapore, delves into the dynamic evolution of leisure in Singapore through time and the spaces associated with it.
Punggol Stories
Permanent exhibition
10:00am - 9:00pm
Level 1, 3, 4, Punggol Library
Imagine Punggol when it was home to many kampongs, pig farms and a thriving seafood scene at Punggol Stories. Discover the rich tapestry of Punggol's history from the National Library Board's collections.
The Punggol Stories trail comprises Words That Move (Level 1 Stories Come Alive Room), The Lens of Literature (Level 3 Sing Lit) and an exhibition at Singaporium (Level 4) of the Punggol Library.
The News Gallery: Beyond Headlines
Permanent exhibition
10:00am - 9:00pm
Level 11, Promenade, National Library Building
Discover stories of Singapore newspapers in the National Library's collection dating from the 1820s and learn about significant episodes from Singapore's history through the perspectives of different media. Gain insights into fake news, and learn how you can be more discerning about information and media, through our rich resources on newspapers.
The Rare Collection Gallery
The gallery is temporarily closed
Level 13, Rare Gallery, National Library Building
The Rare Collection Gallery showcases treasures from the National Library's Rare Materials Collection of valuable research materials on Singapore and Southeast Asia. Comprising over 15,000 books, journals, manuscripts, maps, photographs and ephemera, many of the items in the collection were inherited from the National Library's predecessors — the Singapore Library (1844 – 1874) and the Raffles Museum and Library (1874 – 1960). The collection is also further enhanced by recent donations from institutions and individuals. The items on display are regularly refreshed to highlight the various interesting artefacts from the Rare Materials Collection, and is open for viewing during organised public tours.