The restriction is necessary to protect the materials, as normal handling would speed up the rate of deterioration (not to mention wear and tear). For details on access, ask the reference librarians or write in to the National Library via this link.
"The Hikayat Abdullah 1849, autobiography of Malaccan Malay scholar, teacher & writer, Munshi Abdullah (1795-1854), is among the many precious items in the Rare Materials Collection."
~ See image link
Some samples of what's in the glass shelves:
(click to see larger images)
Tag: new national library, national library board singapore
cool. i was just going to ask u about how to get access. thanx man!
ReplyDeletebtw, aren't there plans to digitize/scan in all the rare stuff?
ReplyDeletewow thanks for sharing whats in the "rare material" (restricted acacess) level because erm... *paiseh* we were joking about what restricted material might be kept in that elusive level heh :)
ReplyDeletetook lots of pictures of the lib when we visited the other day though we know its not erm... allowed. heh couldn't resist
Hi Tinkertailor, I understand that digitisation efforts is ongoing. Sorry but I don't have details on when they would be available.
ReplyDeleteHey Monkey - personally, I feel that NLB should set aside one day for photos to be taken freely. I mean, it's a nice building afterall. Just my opinions anyway :)
indeed, not only the library very nice but also the view from the library is spectacular...
ReplyDeletebut i guess i can understand the fear that photographers would just go in to use the building as a platform for phototaking. sort of an abuse of the library i suppose.
makes me think of when my family was at the esplanade library during NDP preview and when the fireworks came out, suddenly the silently reading patrons suddenly whipped out cameras out of thin air and started flashing. the poor librarian was helpless. it was so bizarre. everybody was just staking out there waiting for the fireworks.