Library, a high peer-pressure environment for mugging. Library, a sanctuary for a quiet moment. Library, a citadel for academic enlightenment. Library, a student’s second home during the exam season.
I love libraries. I don’t know about you, but I love them to bits. Everyone says they’re a nerd, and by Jove, you know you’re one when the first thing on your freshman to-do list is to find all the libraries in NTU, like me.
Some libraries in NTU can be hard to find, so here’s a complied list and some essential information and tips!
Exactly what libraries are there?
As of 2023 there are 7 libraries in NTU, namely the Art, Design & Media Library, Business Library, Chinese Library, Communication & Information Library, Humanities & Social Sciences Library, Lee Wee Nam Library and the Wang Gungwu Library. There is also the Library Outpost located at The Hive.
Click here for a comprehensive list of their locations!
- Art, Design & Media Library
- Business Library
- Chinese Library
- Communication & Information Library
- Humanities & Social Sciences Library
- Lee Wee Nam Library
- Library Outpost
All libraries are closed on public holidays. Please check announcements on the Library homepage for changes in opening hours. For actual dates of semester and vacation periods, refer to NTU’s Academic Calendar.
All Libraries’ Opening Hours
| Semester Period: | Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 9.30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (Communication & Information Library closes at 1:00 pm) Sunday: Closed |
| Vacation Period: | Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm (Art, Design & Media Library and Communication & Information Library closes at 5:00 pm)
Saturday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (Closed: Art, Design & Media Library and Communication & Information Library) Sunday: Closed |
| Note: Photocopying and network printing services will stop 30 minutes before the Library closes | |
1. Art, Design & Media Library
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Books
ADM Library holds over 11,000 volumes ranging from evolving disciplines in visual art, architecture, design, drawing, illustration, painting and photography. These volumes include reference materials, artist books, play and film production formats, exhibition catalogues, animation guidebooks, and design catalogues.
The Reserve Book Collection (RBR)
The RBR section in the ADM library houses the required reading materials for each course for ADM students. These materials are available for loan to ADM students for a maximum of two hours and must be checked out at the Loan Counter.
Periodicals
There are over 100 subscriptions to periodicals that cover all aspects of the school’s curriculum. Some courses are media, film, animation, design and art. All undergraduates and future postgraduates can find core materials needed for their readings.
Audio-Visual Materials (A/V)
The A/V section of the Library houses an extensive and growing collection of video cassettes, audio cassettes, VCDs, DVDs, audio CDs, and music CDs, with the exception of “restricted” and “non-circulating” A/V materials. These materials are available for faculty, graduate students, and NTU staff to borrow.
For undergraduates, they can tap on individual and group viewing facilities (such as viewing carrels and a cinema room).
Information Services, including reference services
Students are encouraged to browse its collection, ranging from reading resources or materials for research purposes.
If help is needed with the research process, students can approach the ADM Library staff.
Instructional Services
The ADM Library also provides students and faculty with instructional services that introduce them to various art-related online databases.
Library e-resources
Staff and students can access the library’s e-resources from subscribed databases, e-books, and e-journals available at the library homepage 24/7 as long as they have internet access.
There are six Library Catalogue stations and ten networked PCs for accessing e-journals, databases, and other electronic resources for students and staff for their perusal. Furthermore, there are ten individual viewing carrels with multimedia PCS where students can view A/V titles leisurely in a soundproof mini cinema room.
Students can access the Library Catalogue online or access it in the ADM library to search for books, journals, audiovisual materials, and other library resources
Printing and Photocopying: Students can access printing and photocopying services, including colour copying.
Wireless Internet
The Library is equipped with wireless access to facilitate patrons with laptops to use the online facilities and services.
The Study Area
ADM library’s study area provides large spacious tables and comfortable chairs to facilitate group work and individual study.
Highlights
Open study spaces, cinema room and individual AV viewing stations.
Collections: Visual arts, architecture, drawing, design, illustration, painting, photography, and audio-visual materials.
Specialities
ADM library has specially curated loanable books and references related to the visual arts. They also hold an extensive collection of comics and graphic novels.
Did you know they are one of the few libraries with A/V materials available?
Liber@ADML
The newly launched enhanced Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Bookish and Experimental Research at the Art, Design and Media Library (Liber@ADML) features edtech-ready spaces and facilities to support the School of ADM’s interdisciplinary research and innovation needs.
Configurable collaboration zones with well-being features
Equipped with different lighting presets and modular furniture, The Playground allows users to play around with the space and build the ideal classroom or collaborative workspace for teaching and learning. For the user’s well-being, the Playground has a circadian lighting system that automatically adjusts its brightness and colour temperature according to the daylight cycle. Scientifically, this allows the human body to stay connected with its natural circadian rhythm that regulates wakefulness and alertness.
AV pods
The new audio-visual pods function as a collaborative space for users to access visual media resources with an open-concept meeting room.
Student showcases
ADM students and faculty can showcase their creative works through this interactive exhibition space with a sleek window display design.
Temi the robot
Temi the robot is NTU’s first-ever Smart Library Assistant. Riding on the innovative trend, Temi’s capabilities includes wayfinding, answering frequently asked questions, and video calling a NTU Librarian.
| Opening hours (Semester) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Opening hours (Vacation) |
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Saturday: Closed |
| Directions:
NTU School of Art, Design & Media (ART-01-03) Drop at: Nanyang Dr – Hall 2 (27311) |
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2. Business Library
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Facilities for Members with Special Needs
Members with disabilities can request assistance to access any of NTU’s libraries. Onsite facilities include:
- Height-adjustable tables at Lee Wee Nam Library, Business Library and Chinese Library
The business library consists of collaborative spaces, quiet spaces, individual study rooms, and a business lounge with Bloomberg and Datastream terminals.
Collections
The library houses topics from accounting, banking, business law, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality management, international business, management, marketing and strategy.
Quiet Zones
Students in need of a pin-drop quiet environment can head to the Business Library (Level B4) to get maximum focus on their work. Do take note that discussions are not allowed in these Quiet Zones!
Individual Study Spaces (Bookable)
The Business Library has 19 rooms that students can reserve for their individual study sessions. (14 Study Rooms and 5 Language Learning Rooms).
| Opening hours (Semester) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Opening hours (Vacation) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Saturday: Closed |
| Directions:
50 Nanyang Avenue N2-B2b-07, Nanyang Technological University, 639798 |
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3. Chinese Library
Facilities for Members with Special Needs
Members with disabilities can request for assistance to access any of NTU’s libraries. Onsite facilities include:
● Height-adjustable tables at Lee Wee Nam Library, Business Library and Chinese Library
Highlights
NTU’s Chinese Library houses rare thread-bound books – Kangxi Dictionary, Imperial Collection of Four and more. Do head down to find out more!
Collections
Being a Chinese Library, it covers Chinese language materials such as Chinese literature, history, philosophy, religion, linguistics, politics, economy, sociology and management science.
Quiet Zones
Students needing a quiet space and a surrounding with linguistic books can head to the Chinese Library (Reading Room) to get maximum focus on their work. Do take note that discussions are not allowed in these Quiet Zones!
| Opening hours (Semester) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Opening hours (Vacation) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Directions S3.2-B5-01 |
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4. Communication & Information Library
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Highlights
This library has an archive of final-year projects by communication students. Head down to view your senior’s work!
Collections
Students can browse topics ranging from mass communication and media, information sciences, communication research, media law and ethics.
Being a 2-storey library, it is quiet during school term and you can spot many seats during the day. However, it is a fairly small library with limited book titles. But the aircon is always freezing cold, perfect for Singapore’s hot, humid days!
| Directions: Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) |
5. Humanities & Social Sciences Library
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Collaborative Spaces (Bookable)
To use these collaborative spaces, students would need to reserve via LibFacilities prior to use. Accompanying equipment for each space may differ – read the description when booking on LibFacilities.
This library is much smaller than the other NTU libraries. The walkways between the shelves are narrow, making the library appear cramped. Fans of Singlit (Singapore Literature) will be pleased to learn that the library has a small Singlit collection, as well as a collection of works on Singapore’s economy, politics, and history (the ‘Singapore Collection’).
This library is a treasure to students in the Humanities field. There is a wide range of resources available for every humanities topic. However, the downside is that the study spaces are limited, with only a few small cubicles at the library’s sides.
Specialities
This library has books and periodicals related to the social sciences (history, politics, linguistics) and literature (Eastern and Western, classical and modern) that are not found in other NTU libraries.
Besides academic books, students can also browse fiction and non-fiction books that are mostly in English.
Directions:
S4-B3C-05
6. Lee Wee Nam Library
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Facilities for Members with Special Needs
Members with disabilities can request assistance to access any of NTU’s libraries. Onsite facilities include:
- Height-adjustable tables at Lee Wee Nam Library, Business Library and Chinese Library
Highlights
This is NTU’s most popular library as it has a variety of collaborative learning spaces, exhibition spaces, quiet and relaxation spaces, high-end computers, and a recording room.
Collections
Engineering and science are the primary titles found on their shelves.
Hygge
Hygge is a new space that was recently opened in September 2022. This is students’ most favourite relaxing and studying space, with it being a dedicated well-being space at the Quiet Zone of Lee Wee Nam Library (Level 5). Primarily designed to encourage students to wind down from academic stresses, it allows them to engage in reflection, contemplation and mental relaxation. HYGGE features the concept Fascinature, which combines elements of soft fascination and nature to facilitate mental rejuvenation.
Quiet Zones
There are allocated zones dedicated for users who need to concentrate on their work or study and are available at Lee Wee Nam Library (Level 5). Discussions are not allowed in these Quiet Zones.
| Opening hours (Semester) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Opening hours (Vacation) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Directions: 50 Nanyang Avenue, Blk NS3-03-01, 639798 |
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7. Library Outpost
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Highlights
This library literally has café-style seating and lounging spaces and diverse audio-visual materials. It is definitely a different concept from other NTU libraries!
Collections
It holds audio-visual collections and Course Reserves for HSS and NBS.
A course reserve item borrowed before 7 pm must be returned within two hours or risk a hefty fine. If students borrow the material after 7 pm, they must return it by 11 am the following morning.
| Opening hours (Semester) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Opening hours (Vacation) | Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm |
| Directions: Level 1, Hive Building |
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8. Wang Gungwu Library
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| Opening hours (Semester) | • Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm • Saturday: Closed |
| Opening hours (Vacation) | • Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm • Saturday: Closed |
Here’s one bonus library that’s truly hidden out of sight! It is contained within the Chinese Heritage Centre (CHC), it is quite dark and is mostly lit by natural light, which is understandable as most of the books there look old and thus require protection. Since it’s in an odd location, it is very quiet and very empty on most days, which makes it a good place to get some private space and time.
You’ll find books and references related to Chinese culture/tradition, literature, and research here, in both English and Chinese, as well as permanent displays of old Singaporean educational materials. Do stop by for a visit at least once!
Collaborative Spaces (Needs Booking)
The following spaces for group discussion require reservation on LibFacilities before use. Accompanying equipment for each space may differ – read the description when booking on LibFacilities.
Print your course materials
Print and photocopy your coursework at NTU’s libraries. Depending on the libraries, the price is also different. Libraries usually charge $0.045 – $0.05/black and white page and $0.54 – $1.00/colour page for printing jobs. Photocopying cost $0.025/A4 black and white photocopy and $0.054/A4 colour page photocopy. All printing and photocopying services in libraries are paid via a sensor that deducts money from your EZ-link card or through Paylah.
For more details about what you can borrow: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/membership/student/pages/privileges.aspx
You can also consult librarians at NTU. Ask them about how to find academic papers related to your research project. Ask them about the angle of your project. Basically, librarians are mentors that provide guidance if you choose to consult them.
Hope this guide was useful to navigate NTU libraries! Feel free to comment if you have any queries!