Star Wars-inspired pop-up library arrives at Changi Airport
The next time you are at Changi Airport Terminal 3, look out for a pop-up library featuring a robotic arm that retrieves and sorts books.
Situated on Level 2 near the Skytrain to Jewel, it houses a physical collection of over 2,000 Star Wars books, including 380 unique titles hand-picked by National library Board (NLB) librarians.
The selection includes popular titles such as the Star Wars: Darth Vader comic series; Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Manga series; Star Wars: The High Republic junior novel series; and more.
It is all part of NLB's 30th anniversary celebrations, as it aims to serve readers beyond its premises while showcasing its new automated book retrieval and return system.
With a tap of a library-compliant ID card - such as an NRIC or NLB eCard - patrons can enter the pop-up library and browse their favourite titles while engaging with interactive elements.
A personality quiz invites patrons to discover which Jedi character best suits their personality, recommending specific books based on the results, while another interactive wall tests their Star Wars knowledge with a trivia quiz.
"(The pop-up library) is a fun way for everyone to learn more about one of the world's most fabled universes, and to discover the joys of reading," said NLB's chief executive Ng Cher Pong.
Another highlight is the automated book retrieval and return system.
Housed in a futuristic glass room, a robotic arm navigates shelves of books to retrieve and sort titles according to patrons' requests, reducing manual, labour-intensive tasks.
Patrons can select their favourite reads through a touch-screen kiosk, and the robot delivers the requested book through a collection point.
The library is open from now till Jan 24, 2026, from 10am to 10pm daily.
