NLB Singapore bundles six separate commercial platforms with a free library membership. Combined, these services would cost between SGD 250 and SGD 600 per year if purchased individually. Most members use only one or two, leaving the rest entirely untapped.

How to Access NLB Digital Resources

All NLB digital platforms use your NLB account credentials. The quickest way to find them:

  1. Log in at nlb.gov.sg
  2. Navigate to "Digital Resources" in the top menu
  3. Select the platform you want — your NLB login authenticates access automatically

For mobile apps like Libby, you select "Sign in with a library card," find Singapore, and enter your NLB ID. You do not need a separate username or password.

Libby (OverDrive) — eBooks and Audiobooks

Libby is the flagship eBook and audiobook app, developed by OverDrive. NLB's catalogue includes over 500,000 titles in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The collection spans bestsellers, Singapore literature, business books, academic texts and an extensive children's library.

How borrowing works in practice:

  • Popular titles have waiting lists, sometimes 4–8 weeks for new releases
  • You can place holds on up to 12 titles simultaneously
  • Borrowed titles expire automatically — no late fees
  • Compatible with Kindle, Kobo, iOS, Android and desktop browsers

NLB also has a "Lucky Dip" feature — if you want to read something immediately without a waiting list, filter by "Available Now" in the Libby app. The selection of immediately available titles is substantial, especially outside the bestseller lists.

Commercial equivalent: Kindle Unlimited costs around SGD 14.99/month (SGD 180/year), though Libby's catalogue quality for non-fiction and literary fiction is generally considered superior.

PressReader — Global News and Magazines

PressReader provides full PDF-format access to over 7,000 newspaper and magazine titles from 120+ countries. This is genuinely one of the most underrated benefits of NLB membership.

What's available:

  • The Straits Times (same-day digital edition)
  • The Guardian, The Times, Financial Times
  • Le Monde, Der Spiegel, El País (in original languages)
  • Wired, The Economist, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review
  • Hundreds of specialist titles in cooking, design, science and sport

The PressReader app allows offline reading — articles sync when connected. Particularly useful for frequent travellers. Full issues can be saved for up to 60 days.

Commercial equivalent: The Economist subscription alone costs around SGD 400/year. A basic PressReader subscription is SGD 32.99/month. As an NLB benefit, you get everything at no extra cost.

Kanopy — Film and Documentary Streaming

Kanopy is a streaming platform available through public libraries internationally. NLB's version includes:

  • Award-winning documentary films (BBC, PBS, National Geographic)
  • Independent and world cinema with strong Asian content
  • The Great Courses Plus — university-level lecture series on history, science, philosophy and literature
  • Children's content under "Kanopy Kids"

Kanopy credits refresh monthly — each member gets a set number of film borrows per month before the next cycle. The Great Courses series does not count against your credit limit.

Commercial equivalent: The Great Courses Plus alone is USD 19.99/month. Kanopy is not publicly available without a library card anywhere in the world.

LinkedIn Learning — Professional Courses

LinkedIn Learning provides access to over 21,000 courses taught by industry practitioners. Course categories include:

  • Technology: Python, data analysis, cloud architecture, cybersecurity
  • Business: project management, finance fundamentals, leadership
  • Creative: video editing, graphic design, photography
  • Soft skills: communication, time management, negotiation

Course completion certificates are shareable directly to your LinkedIn profile, which matters in Singapore's professional market where certification visibility is part of career positioning. NLB's LinkedIn Learning access is full — you are not limited to a subset of the catalogue.

Commercial equivalent: LinkedIn Learning costs SGD 39.99/month individually.

NLB eNewspapers — Singapore Historical Archive

The NewspaperSG archive provides digitised access to Singapore and Malayan newspapers from 1827 onwards. This is a unique resource for anyone researching Singapore history, family genealogy or regional journalism history.

Coverage includes The Straits Times (archived from 1845), The Singapore Free Press, Berita Harian and various Chinese-language titles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Full-text search across all archived issues is available.

Ancestry and Genealogy Databases

NLB provides library-only access to Ancestry.com and Findmypast — two of the largest genealogical databases globally. These platforms normally cost USD 22–30/month. Access is available at NLB branches or remotely with your NLB account through the Digital Resources portal.

For Singapore residents tracing family history across Southeast Asia, China or India, these databases combined with NLB's own Singapore records collection create a genuinely powerful research tool.

Tips for Getting the Most from NLB Digital

  • Set up automatic holds on Libby — when new titles are released, add them immediately rather than waiting for the waiting list to grow
  • Use PressReader offline mode before long flights — sync a week's worth of reading before you travel
  • Kanopy's Great Courses Plus series in history, philosophy and economics are particularly strong — they're the equivalent of university lectures without credit requirements
  • LinkedIn Learning certificates are most useful when completed in thematic clusters rather than individual courses