It brings to mind Beauty and the Beast with its multitude of towering Roman columns, high domed ceiling lined with arched windows, and rustic wooden desks that are uniquely curved to create a circular formation in the middle of the room – but you won’t find this grand library anywhere in Europe. Instead, you might be surprised to learn that it’s sitting hidden within plain sight at Singapore’s very own National Gallery, the biggest arts and culture museum in the city.
See also: Geneo, a new mall and lifestyle hub in Singapore with unique European cathedral-inspired architecture
Unlike most other public libraries in Singapore, the Rotunda Library & Archive isn’t part of the National Library Board (NLB), but rather fully owned by the museum itself. Don't expect to see children’s picture books or steamy romance fiction novels here – its vast collection contains art journals, diaries full of sketches and photos, research material, and archives from Singapore and the region dating back to as early as the 19th century. Safe to say, you won’t find the same sort of rare historic reads at your everyday neighbourhood library.
Even if diving deep into the history of Southeast Asian art isn’t really up your alley, this two-storey library annexe is a gorgeous work of art in itself that’s worth marvelling at. There’s even a sliding ladder that you can use to reach the volumes on the higher shelves – cue Belle in that bookshop ladder scene – a rare sight in Singapore’s libraries save for Library@Orchard, which is currently closed till 2026 for a revamp.
If you’ve attended past editions of annual light festival Light To Night, you might have entered the Rotunda to watch kaleidoscopic projections being cast onto its high domed ceiling past nightfall. But during quieter daytime hours, this library has a whole different vibe – one that feels almost sacred, with beams of sunlight streaming through the windows and warmly enveloping the pristine white interiors.
Other than the communal circle of desks in the middle, there are also little reading nooks in various corners of this majestic-looking space. You’re free to bury your nose into all the titles on the shelves to your heart’s content, but since the Rotunda Library is a non-lending reference library, you won’t be able to loan them out of the premises.
Book-lovers will be thrilled to know that entry to the Rotunda Library & Archive is free-of-charge, and tickets to the National Gallery are not required. There’s just one little catch: the library is only open weekdays from 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 5pm, with the exception of public holidays, so those on a standard five-day office work week will only be able to visit on a day off. Do note that those aged under 16 years will need to register for a visit if unaccompanied by an adult.
The Rotunda Library & Archive is located on Level 3 of the National Gallery’s Supreme Court Wing. Find out more via the National Gallery Singapore website.
READ MORE