The Library Association of Singapore (LAS) marked a milestone on 14 November 2025 as members gathered to celebrate the association’s 70th anniversary (Watch the video here). Held at the National Library Building’s Pod, with sweeping nighttime views of the city, the evening brought together librarians to reminisce on shared memories and celebrate the association’s enduring commitment to advancing librarianship in Singapore.

Guests were welcomed with light refreshments, photo booths, and a special display highlighting LAS’ rich heritage. The exhibit featured early LAS publications and Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL) materials that sparked lively conversation.

 

 

The programme opened with a video montage titled 70 Years of the Library Association of Singapore, followed by an address from the current LAS President, Ms Shameem Nilofar Maideen.

In her warm and humorous speech, she reflected on the shared values that LAS has espoused across generations. She light-heartedly referenced articles in the Singapore Libraries Bulletin introducing the newly elected LAS Council through their LimSimi personality quiz, where more than 80% of the newly elected LAS Council were identified as bandung (a rose syrup drink popular in Southeast Asia), symbolic of romantic idealists who believe in causes larger than themselves (Missed these articles? Read Part 1 and Part 2 here). “If we ran this quiz tonight, I’m pretty sure most of you would also be bandung,” she quipped, noting that idealism and commitment are precisely what has sustained the Association over seven decades.

Ms Shameem also highlighted ongoing efforts to deepen professional engagement, including the commemorative publication, The LAS & PPM presidents’ journey: Celebrating 70 years of librarianship (1955-2025) (eBook available here), along with the collection of past journals and newsletters which had been digitised and made available on the LAS website. She described the past journals and newsletters as “a treasure trove of information” and expressed heartfelt thanks to the National Library Board (NLB) and the National University of Singapore Libraries (NUS Libraries) for making this possible.

 

 

 

Dinner kicked off with a buffet, while the jazz band kept the atmosphere lively with their performance. The evening was punctuated by spontaneous and unforgettable moments, including an impromptu singalong of Kit Chan’s “Home”.

Adding to the joy was a delightful surprise: a guest from NUS Libraries who fully embraced the floral dress code and arrived dressed as a literal flower, with her face framed by vibrant petals.

The night also featured a fun Kahoot quiz, where attendees tested their knowledge of historical LAS trivia. A key highlight of the evening was the ceremonial cake-cutting officiated by both past and present council members.

 

 

 

LAS Vice President, Mr Ian Yap, took the stage next with a light-hearted address, peppered with jokes about membership fees (which used to be only $20 per annum) and the dream of a future LAS theme song. He also offered a sincere reflection on why LAS continues to thrive, attributing the association’s longevity to three key pillars: people with determination, a relentless quest for innovation, and a passionate tradition of volunteerism. These, he emphasised, are what would carry LAS through the next 70 years and beyond.

His speech concluded with a jubilant toast to LAS “for another 70 progressive years,” which was echoed enthusiastically across the room.

 

 

As the evening drew to a close, guests were gifted with brownies as a sweet finale to the night. The LAS 70th Anniversary Dinner was a testament to the resilience and unity of Singapore’s library community. With eyes set on the next 70 years (and more!), LAS continues to stand as a collective voice for the profession in Singapore.

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Contributed by:
Jacqueline Lee
LAS Publications Committee