Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
National Library Exhibitions

About

Find out about The Rare Collection Gallery.

Last updated 17 July 2026
Open book illustration with animal drawing, and "THE RARE COLLECTION GALLERY" written across in bold white letters.
A red rectangle fills the entire image.
A museum exhibit displays various old books and manuscripts in glass cases and on shelves.
A solid red horizontal rectangle against a black background.

  • The gallery is temporarily closed

  • Level 13, Rare Gallery, National Library Building

A plain red rectangle with no other elements or text.

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.