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Straits Times

First pop-up comics and games library opens in Punggol Coast Mall

First pop-up comics and games library opens in Punggol Coast Mall SINGAPORE – A new pop-up library with more than 7,000 comics, game-themed reads, graphic novels and board games opened on April 30 at Punggol Coast Mall. Called the Comics and Games Library, it will be open for a year and is a fully self-service facility jointly launched by the National Library Board (NLB), JTC Corporation and local board-game company Origame. This is the first NLB pop-up which features board games. Located at the atrium of Punggol Coast Mall in Punggol Digital District, the library's bright designs reflect the 'fun, adventurous spirit of comics and gameplay', said the NLB on April 30. Patrons can play board games at dedicated spaces within the pop-up, which also allows them to browse and borrow books. The Comics and Games Library will be open for a year at Punggol Coast Mall. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY This pop-up is part of NLB's LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) plan – a five-year road map launched in 2021 that aims to encourage Singaporeans to read and become more information-literate. Mr Ng Cher Pong, NLB's chief executive, said in the statement: 'We have been encouraged by the responses to our pop-up libraries, which have appeared in malls, community clubs, and other spaces near where patrons are. With each new pop-up library, we take the opportunity to work with different partners, to bring reading and learning to our patrons in new and engaging ways. 'For the Comics and Games Library, we explored creating a board game space with home-grown game designers, for patrons to learn about Singapore culture through play, and also discover local talents in gaming.' Fans seeking the nostalgia of local comic classics can look forward to a showcase wall featuring titles donated by collectors, including Captain V, Singapore's first full-colour comic. The pop-up is part of NLB's LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) plan. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Patrons can also explore game-themed books like Dune and Ready Player One, as well as learn more about games through a non-fiction collection featuring books on game design history and game strategy. The library features dedicated spaces for adults and children, featuring a range of fan favourite comics such as Bluey, Justice League and Japanese manga collection HunterXHunter. Readers can explore the mother tongue and local comics' eBook collections via the eReads interactive screens. To enter the library, visitors can scan their ID or get a QR code day pass. Visitors can use their NRIC and NLB mobile app to access the library. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Apart from classic games such as Monopoly and Chess, the pop-up features 11 Singapore-themed board games de sign ed by the co-founder of Origame, Dr Daryl Chow, 43. Dr Chow, who holds a PhD in linguistics from the University of Ottawa, said board games provide both education and entertainment, in line with the roles of the library. He hopes that this collaboration will provide greater visibility for board games. Among the selections at the library, he highly recommends local game Huat's Up?, a game designed around a local favourite dish, lo hei. Local card game Huat's Up? is designed by Dr Daryl Chow. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Ms Winnie Tan, 27, manager of planning and development at NLB, said: 'Games help to develop strategic thinking and fosters social interaction. It's great to have a space for people to be together to read and play.' The initiative has been well-received by the board-game community, with interest groups and game design companies reaching out to organise workshops and programmes within the pop-up, she added. Ms Winnie Tan is manager of planning and development at NLB. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY One of the library's first visitors were twins Ellery and Averyl Ng, six, who made a beeline for the games. 'We don't really play games (at home), but we do visit the library quite often,' their mother, homemaker Koe Sin Wee, 37, said. She added that her family, who lives in Punggol, will be back again to explore more games. Dr Daryl Chow playing with six-year-old twins Ellery (left) and Averyl Ng in the Comics and Games Library on April 30 ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.