Every good story begins with a hook, and this one begins among books. As a child, Abigail Leong wandered the aisles of her neighbourhood library, discovering worlds tucked between pages. What started as a love for reading soon evolved into a curiosity about how stories shape the way we think, learn, and connect.

Today, Abigail channels that curiosity into her work at NLB. As Assistant Manager and Associate Librarian of Early Literacy, she designs programmes that bring books alive for children — sparking imagination, creating possibilities, helping NLB fulfil its mission to make knowledge come alive, foster learning and cultivate curiosity.

A Novel Path to Librarianship

Although she has always enjoyed reading, becoming a librarian wasn’t the obvious path. “It was through later exposure to other memory institutions, like galleries and museums, that this possibility of working in a library or an archive started to crystallise for me,” Abigail admitted.

How did it all start? Unexpectedly, it was a simple art project about perception that led to an eye-tracking experiment, opening a door to understanding how we perceive and process the world around us. This new perspective led her to pursue Cognitive Science at the University of Edinburgh.

It was this interdisciplinary curiosity that drew her to the NLB Scholarship. “I appreciated the freedom to pursue a degree that genuinely interested me,” she shared. NLB’s openness to unconventional fields of study and its willingness to see how they could connect to library work encouraged her to explore the intersections between her academic pursuits and practical librarianship. In Edinburgh — a city steeped in literary heritage — Abigail volunteered at a private library with an eclectic collection, learning to handle cataloguing duties while exploring psychology and linguistics.

It was a combination of all these experiences that helped her develop practical skills while deepening her understanding of how humans acquire language, concepts, and literacy. This combination of knowledge and hands-on experience now informs her work at NLB.

Bringing Literacy to Life

Abigail’s days at NLB blend creativity with operations. She plans programmes, curates content for book festivals and exhibitions, liaises with partners and project teams — all to engage young readers, families, and educators. But her proudest innovation runs deeper.

As the accessibility representative for Early Literacy, she partnered with SG Enable to borrow accessible learning kits for children with disabilities. The kits combine tactile, auditory, and visual elements — introducing Braille alongside English letters, giving every child a chance to explore language through play. These kits have been a hit with the young patrons aged six and under, capturing their attention with vibrant colours, engaging sounds, and tactile textures.

Her studies in service design also shape how she approaches programming. By considering the patron’s journey — not just the project brief — she incorporates thoughtful touches such as QR codes that link directly to future sessions, making it easier for families to plan their next visit. “It is always a pleasant surprise to recognise a family who keeps coming back to our library programmes,” she shared. “Their continued participation suggests these programmes were enjoyable and beneficial for them to return.”

In every project, Abigail combines operational excellence with a strong commitment to community impact. Pairing research-informed strategies with hands-on engagement, she transforms early literacy programmes into experiences that leave a lasting impression far beyond the library walls.

Collaborative Chapters of Growth

Beyond the programmes themselves, Abigail has learned to thrive within NLB’s supportive and collaborative culture. Early in her career, senior librarians shared simple but lasting advice — centre every activity around a strong theme and engage all the senses. Whether it’s a farm-animal storytelling session or a hands-on craft activity, Abigail weaves these principles into each programme, bringing stories vividly to life.

She also learned that exploration and adaptability aren’t just buzzwords at NLB — they’re part of its DNA. Staff are encouraged to rotate across departments and take on new roles, uncovering where their skills and passions align best. As Abigail mused, “I find these rotations also add to the work we do, providing another perspective and exercising our adaptability to new situations and responsibilities.”

Bookmarks for the Future: Cataloguing Possibilities

From a child wandering library aisles to a librarian inspiring the next generation of readers, Abigail’s journey has come full circle. Through her work, she helps others experience the same wonder she once found between the shelves, proving that the library is far more than just a place for books.

Today, librarianship is rapidly evolving beyond traditional duties to include experience curation, service design, and community building. For aspiring librarians, Abigail advised: “Stay open to the many ways your interests can align with librarianship.” She adds that one way to do so is by building relationships early with people in the field, whether locally or abroad.

The stories are waiting. So are the possibilities.