(Photo: CNA/Erin Liam)
SMU Assistant Professor of Sociology (Education) George Wong said standalone libraries evoke heritage and nostalgia for many. He linked current sentiment to memories of the former National Library at Stamford Road, which was demolished in 2004. Asst Prof Wong also highlighted that the relocation of libraries to a mall might feel like an “over-commercialisation” of leisure. Ultimately, he said that the question is not whether standalone or mall libraries are superior, but how libraries can be designed to serve communities effectively.
