The building plans were approved by Mrs Hedwig Anuar, the then-Director of the National Library.

It is currently the oldest library in Singapore after the original National Library at Stamford Road was torn down, the first of 26 under the National Library Board (NLB) to be preserved as announced on 25 July 2014[1] and was gazetted for conservation under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan 2014, as part of the medium-term physical development of Singapore on 6 June that year.

Located along Margaret Drive within walking distance of Queenstown MRT station, it serves the residents of Alexandra, Bukit Timah, Buona Vista, Clementi, Commonwealth, Dover, Ghim Moh, Holland, Pasir Panjang, Queenstown, Tanglin Halt and Ulu Pandan.

The library was closed on 4 February 2003 for upgrading work and was officially reopened on 31 October that year by Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of National Development, and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency.

[3] Covering an area of 3,349 m2, the library spans two levels and serves the residents of Alexandra, Bukit Timah, Buona Vista, Clementi, Commonwealth, Dover, Ghim Moh, Holland, Pasir Panjang, Queenstown, Tanglin Halt and Ulu Pandan.