National University of Singapore Libraries Joins AI4LAM as a Founding Organisation
We are delighted to announce that the National University of Singapore Libraries (NUS Libraries) has joined the AI4LAM community as a Founding Organisation! NUS Libraries brings valuable expertise, innovation, and a strong commitment to advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in libraries, archives, museums, and the broader cultural heritage sector.
NUS University Librarian Associate Professor Natalie Pang (seated, centre) signing the Memorandum of Understanding, accompanied by Deputy University Librarian Dr Sim Chuin Peng (left) and Vice University Librarian Dr Magdeline Ng (right).
As the largest academic and research library in Singapore, NUS Libraries currently stewards a rich collection of over 3 million physical volumes, covering a range of languages, disciplines, and subjects, housed in seven libraries and outposts spread out across NUS’ various campus locations.
Headquartered in NUS Central Library, at the heart of the Kent Ridge Campus, NUS Libraries plays a pivotal role in partnering the NUS community to advance scholarship and research, by providing information resources, knowledge networks and interactive platforms.
Notably, NUS Libraries is the steward and repository of national and regional heritage, hosting collections that include rare books dating back to the 14th century, irreplaceable material salvaged from the Japanese Occupation of Singapore in World War 2, and the world-renowned Singapore/Malaysia Collection which offers broad and in-depth coverage of the economic, geographical, historical, political and social development of Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an entity.
NUS Libraries also actively champions the development and use of innovative technologies to enhance learning, teaching, and research, through the Libraries of Fantastic Things (LOFT) innovation framework. Since 2018, NUS Libraries has developed and introduced practical AI applications across its services and operations, such as AI literacy programmes, AI-assisted cataloguing, recommendation tools, scan error detection and support for systematic reviews.
These efforts now sit under LOFT x AI, which brings together projects such as AI Sense Maker, an AI-enabled Service Desk and NaviSR, an AI Agent for Systematic Review. The chatbot answers common library-related questions and directs readers to appropriate services, while the Systematic Review AI Agent will use videos and library guides produced by the library to help students learn how to review and synthesise existing research.
NUS Libraries plans to further expand the use of AI across research discovery, digitisation and research support. This includes improving the cataloguing and quality of scanned materials, as well as supporting the preservation and digitisation of rare and fragile collections.
We are proud to welcome NUS Libraries to the growing community of AI4LAM Founding Organisations. Its expertise in research, digital innovation, and technology-driven knowledge creation will further strengthen AI4LAM’s mission of supporting the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions.
The participation of NUS Libraries highlights the increasingly important role that universities play in fostering collaboration between academia, cultural heritage organisations, and technology communities. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we can collectively advance the development of AI tools and methodologies that improve access to knowledge, enhance the discovery of collections, and support the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
