eMagazines and eNewspapers
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How to Read SPH eNewspapers From Home
After signing in with your myLibrary ID at go.gov.sg/nlb-enews, select the newspaper you wish to read, and you will be brought to the SPH ePaper site.
To sign up for library membership with your Singpass, sign up for myLibrary ID, or check your username / password, please go to account.nlb.gov.sg.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad and have trouble turning pages or if the page looks cut off, your settings may be wrong. Go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface. Alternatively, download the Chrome browser from the AppStore and use Chrome instead.
If you encounter problems zooming into or turning pages in the ePaper, please contact stics@sph.com.sg and indicate "NLB inquiry" in the email. To help with troubleshooting, please indicate your device brand, model, operating system and browser. Thank you.
NLB would like to continue offering SPH eNewspapers as a staple offering. Such subscriptions are dependent on our agreements and negotiations with vendors.
Yes, you can. Make sure your devices' operating systems are updated, e.g. Apple devices should be on iOS / iPadOS 13 and above.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad, first, go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface.
For users of Android devices, not all the browsers may work (e.g. Opera). Additionally, do note that some newspaper titles do not display as well on smartphones compared to tablets and desktop / laptop computers.
If you have problems zooming into or turning pages in the ePaper, please contact stics@sph.com.sg and use "NLB inquiry" as the subject. To help with troubleshooting, please tell us your device brand, model, operating system and browser.
You can read the current issues of:
- The Straits Times
- The Business Times
- The New Paper
- Lianhe Zaobao
- Lianhe Wanbao
- Shin Min Daily News
- Berita Harian
- Tamil Murasu
After signing in with your myLibrary ID at go.gov.sg/nlb-enews, select the newspaper you wish to read, and you will be brought to the SPH ePaper site. At this site, you will be able to read the issues from previous days as well. Depending on the newspaper, this varies from 7 to 13 days.
The interface differs depending on which SPH ePaper you are reading.
For English and Malay SPH ePapers (The Straits Times, The Business Times, The New Paper, and Berita Harian)
When Reading from Desktop / Laptop Computers
Zooming in and out: The interface has been updated (wef 20 May 2020) with navigation and zoom settings above the pages of the ePaper. Click on the magnifying glass on top, then click and drag on the white slider to adjust how much you want to zoom in. Then, drag the page around to read the segment you want.
Turning pages: Click on the left or right arrow. If you do not see the arrows, click on the magnifying glass first.
Reading an issue from another date: Click on the calendar icon (the leftmost icon) on top, then select the desired date. If you do not see the calendar icon, click on the magnifying glass first.
When Reading from Mobile Phones / Tablets
Zooming in and out: Simply pinch the screen, as you would on a normal webpage.
Turning pages: Pinch the screen to zoom out completely (until you can see the whole page on your screen), then swipe right or left.
Reading an issue from another date: Tap once near the middle of the screen. Tap on the calendar icon, then scroll down to see the issues available. Select the desired date.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad and have trouble turning pages or if the page looks cut off, your settings may be wrong. Go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface. Alternatively, download the Chrome browser from the AppStore and use Chrome instead.
For Tamil Murasu and the Chinese SPH ePapers (Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao, Shinmin Daily News)
When Reading from Desktop / Laptop Computers
Zooming in and out: Click on the magnifying glass on the right, then click and drag on the white slider to adjust how much you want to zoom in. Then, drag the page around to read the segment you want.
Turning pages:Click on the left or right arrow. If you do not see any arrows, click on the magnifying glass on top first.
Reading an issue from another date: Click on the calendar icon on the right side of the screen, then select the desired date. If you do not see the calendar icon, click on the magnifying glass first.
When Reading from Mobile Phones / Tablets
Zooming in and out: Simply pinch the screen, as you would on a normal webpage.
Turning pages: Pinch the screen to zoom out completely (until you can see the whole page on your screen), then swipe right or left.
Reading an issue from another date: Pinch the screen to zoom out completely (until you can see the whole page on your screen). Tap once near the middle of the screen. Tap on the calendar icon, then scroll down to see the issues available. Select the desired date.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad and have trouble turning pages or if the page looks cut off, your settings may be wrong. Go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface. Alternatively, download the Chrome browser from the AppStore and use Chrome instead.
If you have problems zooming into or turning pages in the ePaper, please contact stics@sph.com.sg and use "NLB inquiry" as the subject. To help with troubleshooting, please tell us your device brand, model, operating system and browser. Thank you.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad, first, make sure that you are using the mobile version of the website. To check this, go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface. Alternatively, download the Chrome browser from the AppStore and use Chrome instead.
If the above does not apply and you have problems zooming into or turning pages in the ePaper, please contact stics@sph.com.sg and use "NLB inquiry" as the subject. To help with troubleshooting, please tell us your device brand, model, operating system and browser. Thank you.
This depends on SPH’s publication times. You can read the newspaper on the same day as it is published.
Yes, you can! Tap on the SPH logo in NLB Mobile's home tab. Make sure your devices' operating systems are updated, e.g. Apple devices should be on iOS / iPadOS 13 and above.
For users of Android devices, some browsers may not be supported (e.g. Opera). Additionally, do note that some newspaper titles do not display as well on smartphones compared to tablets and desktop / laptop computers.
If you are using the Safari browser on an iPad and have trouble turning pages or if the page looks cut off, your settings may be wrong. Go to Settings > Safari > (under the heading "Settings for Websites") Request Desktop Website > Switch off. After turning off this setting, close and reopen the page again to see the changed interface. Alternatively, download the Chrome browser from the AppStore and use Chrome instead.
This may happen for a few reasons.
First, you may be using a device with an older operating system. Please update your operating system, e.g. Apple devices should be on iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 / MacOS 15 and above. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check which version of the operating system you are on, and update to a new version if needed.
Second, you may be using an incompatible browser. For example, Android users on Opera may wish to try another browser.
Third, if this happens while you were reading the ePaper, this may be because your browser window has been idle for a while. Please log in again from go.gov.sg/nlb-enews.
Due to licensing and access control, there is a limit to the number of users who can read the newspapers at the same time. Sometimes, users may be logged out when the limit is reached. If this happens, please wait a while, then log in again from go.gov.sg/nlb-enews.
No. NLB's license agreement with SPH is for the digital version of the print newspaper only.
Don't see your SPH eNewspapers-related question / issue here? Email stics@sph.com.sg and indicate "NLB inquiry" in the email. To help with troubleshooting, please indicate your device brand, model, operating system and browser. Thank you.
Downloading Local Newspapers
SPH newspapers are not available for download outside of NLB library premises in Singapore due to the geographic restriction set by the publisher.
You can download SPH local newspapers only if you are onsite at NLB’s libraries with your device, while it is connected to NLB's Wireless@SGx networks.
Step 1:
Connect your device to the Wireless@SGx network in the library.
Step 2:
Launch the PressReader app directly (or go to the NLB Mobile app and tap on the "eNewspapers and eMagazines" icon).
Step 3:
Search for the newspaper you want. Tap on the downwards arrow next to the name of the newspaper, or tap on the green "Read" button to download it. To access past issues, tap on the cover of the newspaper, then the calendar icon.
Anything you download in the PressReader app can be accessed using the "Downloaded" button at the bottom of the PressReader app. You can download as many SPH newspapers as you want when you are at the libraries, just as long as your device has enough storage for the downloaded content. You can then continue to read the downloaded content even when you are away from the library premises.
If you only wish to read SPH newspapers online instead of downloading them, you don't have to be at the library and can read them from anywhere, by logging in with your myLibrary ID at go.gov.sg/nlb-enews.
Reading International eNewspapers and eMagazines with PressReader
About PressReader
An international digital newsstand on the go:
- Current issues from over 7,000 of the world’s leading publications
- From more than 100 countries
- International papers and magazines - The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, Bloomberg Businessweek, T3, Wallpaper*, Marie Claire Ideas, and more!
- Local publications - Female, Women’s Weekly, Singapore Tatler, The Edge Singapore and more!
How to Read International eNewspapers and eMagazines
Getting Started with PressReader
You can download the app on iOS and Android devices for free at the Apple app store and the Google Play Store.
For other platforms (e.g. Windows), please check this PressReader guide.
‘Sponsored Access’ means that you have been granted complimentary access to PressReader. During this period, you can download PressReader content and continue to read the downloaded content until you decide to delete the files.
‘Sponsored Access’ is granted when you access PressReader via the NLB Mobile app, or when you connect your device to Wireless@SGx at the libraries.
There are many ways! If you are reading from your mobile device, the best way is through the NLB Mobile app. If you are reading from your computer or laptop, use your Internet browser. If you want to read local newspapers too, you have to access PressReader at our libraries.
Here are the details of each access mode:
- NLB Mobile app
- Tap the “eNewspapers & eMagazines” icon on your NLB Mobile app. You will be prompted to download the PressReader app if you don’t have it. When you launch the PressReader app through NLB Mobile, you can get one hour of complimentary access to the publications. When the hour is up, you can re-launch PressReader from NLB Mobile to get complimentary access again.
- Internet browser
- Go to NLB’s eResources webpage on PressReader. Sign in with your myLibrary ID, and click on “PressReader” to gain complimentary access to the publications.
- NLB libraries
- Connect your device to the Wireless@SGx network at our libraries. Open either pressreader.com in your browser or the PressReader app. You will have complimentary access to PressReader’s publications for three days, even after you leave the library. However, access to The Straits Times, The Business Times and Lianhe Zaobao is only available while you are connected to the Wireless@SGx network at any library.
- Use the eNewspaper stations at our libraries.
Go to NLB’s eResources webpage on PressReader. Sign in with your myLibrary ID, and click on “PressReader” to gain complimentary access to the publications. You can share this shortcut - go.gov.sg/nlb-pressreader with your friends.
To confirm this, go to the ‘Browse’ tab in the PressReader app and look for a tea cup icon at the bottom right corner of the display. This tea cup icon will appear when you are connected to PressReader through the Wireless@SGx network at NLB libraries, or via the NLB Mobile app.
Tap on the tea cup to confirm that the access is being provided by NLB.
No, you will not be charged for the content that NLB has subscribed to.
(Do note that downloading content using your mobile data plan may incur charges from your telco for the data used.)
Good news, there's no limit! You can download as many titles and issues as you like.
But make sure your device has enough space to store the downloaded content.
We're sorry for the confusion! The Economist is only available through another vendor - not PressReader. Click here to read The Economist on your browser or the Libby app.
The difference between PressReader and Libby is that Libby has a smaller collection of only magazines, but includes some that are not available in PressReader. These are:
- Allure
- Billboard
- Bon Appetit
- Conde Nast Traveler
- Marie Claire
- Rolling Stone
- The Economist
- The Hollywood Reporter
- The New Yorker
- Wired
PressReader has a much larger collection that includes newspapers. Libby has a smaller, magazines-only collection, but includes some that are not available in PressReader. These are:
- Allure
- Billboard
- Bon Appetit
- Conde Nast Traveler
- Marie Claire
- Rolling Stone
- The Economist
- The Hollywood Reporter
- The New Yorker
- Wired
If you want any of the above titles, go to Libby. Click here for the Libby guide.
The other key difference is that once downloaded, you get to keep PressReader magazines in your device for as long as you want. Libby Magazines are automatically returned after 21 days. After that, just borrow again if you still want them.
Troubleshooting PressReader
Sometimes, the app takes a while to refresh. To speed up the refresh, put your finger at the centre of the screen and drag down. When the app is refreshed, you should see a welcome box informing you that you are at an NLB hotspot.
Alternatively, if you only wish to read SPH newspapers online instead of downloading them, you can use the SPH eNewspaper service instead of PressReader to access the newspapers. Just log in with your myLibrary ID at go.gov.sg/nlb-enews.
Select the ‘Downloaded’ tab in the PressReader app to view the content that you have downloaded.
No, you don’t need to connect to the Internet for this as the downloaded files can be accessed while your device is offline.
You can email us and tell us about the issue(s) you have encountered. Sending us screenshots related to the issue(s) would help us assist you better!