stated that the board paid rent that was below prevailing market rates for the 1,580 square metre (17,000 square feet) space. NLB had been told in March 2005 that the lease would not be renewed when it expires in February 2008. The vacated space would house fashion, beauty and wellness retailers. Rents in the Orchard Road shopping belt had increased 5–7% in the first half of 2007, and was estimated to go up by another 5–6% by end of that year. To mark the relocation of library@orchard, NLB held a series of public events and programmes, such as exhibitions, film screenings, talks and even "live" performances by local bands and musicians, in the months leading to the closure. A "Moving On" party was then held on the closure date. Re-opening The library@orchard re-opened on 23 October 2014 at Orchard Gateway, a new shopping mall built at the site of the old Specialists' Shopping Centre. The new library is slightly bigger than its predecessor at 1,700 square metres and spans two floors of the mall, described as The Studio and The Loft. 45% of the 100,000 item collection focuses on design and the NLB worked with students and lecturers from Singapore Polytechnic to develop ideas for the branch, focused as it is on young adults. Notes References "Sip coffee and borrow a book at Ngee Ann City", The Straits Times, 6 April 1999 External links National Library Board library@orchard blog Media Conference on the Relocation of library@orchard Libraries in Singapore Libraries established in 1999 Orchard Road Orchard, Singapore 1999 establishments in Singapore