{
  "id": 15585847,
  "title": "NLB teams up with Rakuten Kobo for new hybrid reading space in City Square Mall",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/nlb-teams-up-with-rakuten-kobo-for-new-hybrid-reading-space-in-city",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T09:04:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nlb-teams-up-with-rakuten-kobo-for-new-hybrid-reading-space-in-city-square-mall"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new hybrid reading space opened in City Square Mall in Little India on October 19, 2025, to encourage people to read more. The National Library Board (NLB) has partnered with e-book and e-reader provider Rakuten Kobo, marking its first standalone presence in Singapore. This Sit-n-Read Node will be operational from April 11, 2027, offering a unique blend of physical and e-books for visitors.\n\nLocated on the mall's third floor and open from 10 am to 10 pm daily, patrons can browse e-books using Kobo e-readers and NLB's pre-loved physical books in dedicated seating areas and reading nooks. The e-readers will display snippets from a curated digital collection, aiming to inspire readers to explore new genres and content. Those who find something they enjoy can borrow the full e-books via the NLB Mobile app and continue reading on their personal devices.\n\nNLB also offers pre-loved physical books for all ages, which can be taken home without the need for borrowing. However, the board encourages patrons to return the books so others can have a chance to read them. This initiative is part of NLB's ongoing efforts to promote reading and build a nation of readers under its ReadSG initiative. By bringing Sit-n-Read Nodes into high-footfall lifestyle spaces like City Square Mall, the board aims to transform ordinary spaces into inviting reading corners where people can discover books and enjoy reading whenever they go.\n\nJulian Chou, general manager of Rakuten Kobo Asia, highlighted the partnership as a way to give visitors a chance to explore digital reading and discover how a good book can become a part of their daily routine. The Sit-n-Read Node at City Square Mall joins another opened at Anchorpoint in Alexandra Road on the same day, featuring pre-loved magazines and a Browse-n-Borrow kiosk. This kiosk allows patrons to collect reserved items while the nearby Queenstown Library undergoes renovations. Since August 2025, Sit-n-Read Nodes have been progressively opened, welcoming 400,000 visitors so far. ReadSG, a five-year national reading movement launched by NLB in September, aims to get people to read for at least 15 minutes each day.",
  "summary": "The new hybrid Sit-n-Read Node will be available from Oct 19 to April 11, 2027.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}