"This branch library in Queenstown is a milestone in our rising standards of life. First, they provide a convenient access to books which most people cannot afford to buy. Next, they are sanctuaries of peace and quiet where concentration and better work is possible, particularly when neighbours are inconsiderate. This branch library marks one milestone along the road up the hill towards a more educated society." - Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister, at the opening of the Queenstown Branch Library, 30th April 1970.
Back in the 1960s, reading was a luxury few could afford. Books were expensive and the only public library then was the National Library at Stamford Road. In order to bring books to a wider public, the National Library decided to build branch libraries in the suburbs. Queenstown was the first town to have one, along this stretch of tree-lined road.
Planning for the library started in 1966, with National Library librarians and local architects from the Public Works Department working together. The result was a library designed on a modular principle that allowed the librarians to customise internal spaces for different uses such as setting up booths and creating stack room. Features such as tinted glass to counteract sunrays were also included to reduce heat while high ceilings allowed ventilation at a time when air-conditioning was uncommon. These features set the standard for branch libraries to come.
Built at a cost of $595,000 dollars, Queenstown Branch Library opened in 1970, to the delight of residents. The first storey consisted of the children's section while the second storey housed the adults' section. Within the first year, a total of 293,316 books were borrowed and 12,597 readers were registered. By 1975, the number of members had shot up to 39,031 and the number of books borrowed increased to 668,501. During the 1970s and 1980s, the library provided much-needed spaces for students to read and study. Story-telling sessions were also very popular here.
In 1987, when the National Library began computerising, Queenstown Library was the first to roll out computerised services. It was renamed Queenstown Community Library in 1995. Upgrading works were carried out in 2003 and the library was officially re-opened by Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of National Development, on 31 October 2003.