NLB teams up with Rakuten Kobo for new hybrid reading space in City Square Mall

Patrons will be able to browse e-books using Kobo e-reader devices provided at the City Square Mall Sit-n-Read Node, as well as pre-loved physical books there.

PHOTO: NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD

Published Oct 19, 2026, 05:04 PM

Updated Oct 19, 2026, 05:04 PM

NLB and Rakuten Kobo launched a hybrid Sit-n-Read Node at City Square Mall on 19 Oct, with e-readers, digital books and pre-loved physical books to make reading easier.

The move supports NLB’s ReadSG push to build a nation of readers by placing reading spaces in busy malls and everyday places, with more sites planned.

A new Sit-n-Read Node also opens at Anchorpoint on 19 Oct, with magazines and a Browse-n-Borrow kiosk while Queenstown Library is being renovated.

SINGAPORE – A new space offering people the chance to browse both physical and e-books was launched in the City Square Mall in Little India on Oct 19, to encourage people to read more.

In a media release on the same day , the National Library Board (NLB) said it has teamed up with e-book and e-reader provider Rakuten Kobo – in its first standalone presence here – to create a hybrid Sit-n-Read Node , from Oct 19 to April 11, 2027.

Located on the mall’s third floor and open from 10am to 10pm daily, p atrons will be able to browse e-books using Kobo e-reader devices there , along with NLB pre-loved physical books at dedicated seating areas and reading nooks.

The Kobo e-readers will offer readers snippets from a curated digital collection, with the hope that they explore new genres and content.

If they find something they like, they can then borrow the full e-books via the NLB Mobile app, and continue to read on their personal devices on the go, NLB said.

Physical pre-loved books are also available for all ages, and can be taken home without borrowing. However, NLB said it encourages everyone to bring the books back, so others can have a chance to read them as well.

This initiative is part of NLB’s ongoing efforts to promote reading here and build a nation of readers under its ReadSG initiative by making reading more exciting, accessible, and integrated into everyday spaces, the board added.

“By bringing Sit-n-Read Nodes into high-footfall lifestyle spaces like City Square Mall, we are transforming ordinary spaces into inviting reading corners where people can discover books and enjoy a good read wherever they go,” NLB’s chief executive officer Melissa Tam said.

Julian Chou, general manager of Rakuten Kobo Asia, said: “Bringing Kobo e-readers together with NLB’s collections gives visitors a chance to explore digital reading for themselves and discover how a good book can become part of their daily routine.”

Another Sit-n-Read Node was also launched on Oct 19, at Anchorpoint at Alexandra Road. It features pre-loved magazines for browsing, as well as a Browse-n-Borrow kiosk which also allows patrons to collect reserved items, as the nearby Queenstown Library undergoes renovations.

The Sit-n-Read Nodes have been progressively opened since Aug 2025, welcoming 400,000 visitors in total so far.

The ReadSG, a new five-year national reading movement, was launched by NLB on September to get people to do at least 15-minutes of reading each day.

National Library Board

顾客可以使用城市广场购物中心阅读角提供的 Kobo 电子阅读器浏览电子书，也可以在那里购买二手实体书。

图片来源：国家图书馆委员会

发布于 2026 年 10 月 19 日下午 5:04

更新于2026年10月19日下午5:04

NLB 和 Rakuten Kobo 于 10 月 19 日在 City Square Mall 推出了混合型 Sit-n-Read 节点，提供电子阅读器、电子书和二手实体书，让阅读更轻松。

此举旨在支持新加坡国家图书馆管理局 (NLB) 的 ReadSG 项目，该项目旨在通过在繁忙的商场和日常场所设置阅读空间，打造一个全民阅读的国度，未来还将设立更多阅读场所。

10 月 19 日，Anchorpoint 也将开设一个新的“边坐边读”阅读点，提供杂志和“浏览借阅”自助服务亭，而皇后镇图书馆正在进行翻新。

新加坡——10月19日，位于小印度的城市广场购物中心开设了一个新空间，为人们提供浏览实体书和电子书的机会，旨在鼓励人们多读书。

同一天，国家图书馆管理局 (NLB) 在​​一份媒体声明中表示，它已与电子书和电子阅读器提供商乐天 Kobo 合作，在乐天 Kobo 首次独立入驻新加坡，创建一个混合型的“边坐边读”节点，开放时间为 2027 年 4 月 11 日（10 月 19 日至 2027 年 4 月 11 日）。

该书店位于商场三楼，每天上午 10 点至晚上 10 点营业。顾客可以在这里使用 Kobo 电子阅读器浏览电子书，还可以在专门的座位区和阅读角浏览 NLB 的二手实体书。

Kobo 电子阅读器将为读者提供精选数字馆藏的片段，希望他们能够探索新的类型和内容。

NLB表示，如果读者找到自己喜欢的内容，就可以通过NLB Mobile应用程序借阅完整的电子书，并随时随地在自己的设备上继续阅读。

国家图书馆也提供适合所有年龄段的二手实体书，无需借阅即可带回家。不过，国家图书馆鼓励大家将书归还，以便其他人也有机会阅读。

新加坡国家图书馆管理局补充说，这项举措是该局持续努力的一部分，旨在通过“ReadSG”计划，在新加坡推广阅读，打造一个爱读书的国民，让阅读变得更加有趣、更容易获得，并融入到日常生活中。

“通过将‘坐读点’引入像城市广场购物中心这样人流量大的生活空间，我们正在将普通的空间转变为温馨的阅读角落，让人们无论走到哪里都能发现书籍并享受阅读的乐趣，”国家图书馆管理局首席执行官谭美玲表示。

乐天Kobo亚洲总经理周俊杰表示：“将Kobo电子阅读器与国家图书馆的馆藏结合起来，让参观者有机会亲自体验数字阅读，并发现一本好书如何成为他们日常生活的一部分。”

10月19日，位于亚历山德拉路的Anchorpoint也开设了另一个“边坐边读”阅读点。该阅读点提供二手杂志供读者浏览，还设有“浏览借阅”自助服务终端，读者也可以在此领取已预订的图书，因为附近的皇后镇图书馆正在进行翻修。

自 2025 年 8 月以来，静坐阅读节点已陆续开放，迄今为止共接待了 40 万名游客。

新加坡国家图书馆管理局 (NLB) 于 9 月启动了一项名为 ReadSG 的全新五年全国阅读运动，旨在鼓励人们每天至少阅读 15 分钟。

国家图书馆委员会