Library Transaction Records
The Library Transaction Records dataset provides information on the loan transactions between the National Library Board (NLB) and its patrons. A patron is someone who uses the resources and services of a library.
The following types of transactions are not included in this dataset:
- Transactions from Institutional partners of NLB.
- Transactions at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, Singapore Botanic Gardens Library, The LLiBrary (closed since 1 Mar 2025), National Archives of Singapore.
- Reservations of items that were not fulfilled by NLB or picked up by patron.
- Returns of items.
- Renewal of items.
Dataset Update Frequency
| Dataset | Update Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Library Transaction Records | Every month. | Scheduled update: 10th of each month with 3 months lag. For example, data in the month of July will be ingested on 10th October. |
Fields
This segment covers detailed description and domain specific information of relevant fields in the dataset.
PDV ID
Personal Data Vault (PDV) ID is a unique and persistent anonymized identifier assigned to each patron.
Transaction (Txn) Full Date
The date in which the transaction took place, formatted in YYYY-MM-DD.
Patron Sex
The patron's gender, M - Male, F - Female, U - Unknown.
Patron NLB Age Group
Age bins determined by NLB. Patron age is calculated at time of transaction.
| Age Range |
|---|
| 0-3 |
| 4-6 |
| 7-9 |
| 10-12 |
| 13-19 |
| 20-24 |
| 25-29 |
| 30-34 |
| 35-39 |
| 40-44 |
| 45-49 |
| 50-54 |
| 55-59 |
| 60-64 |
| 65-69 |
| 70-74 |
| 75-79 |
| 80-84 |
| 85 & Over |
Title Native Name
Name of item transacted in its original language.
Issue Title
Issue name of items with frequently updated editions, such as magazines, serials and travel guides. Will have value "Not Applicable" for other items.
Title Native Author
Author of item transacted in its original language.
Item Age Level
Categorises items into the recommended reading age group.
| Value | Age Level |
|---|---|
| A | Adult - 20 years and above |
| J | Junior - Children (7-12 yrs old) |
| JP | Junior Pic - Children (0-6 yrs old) |
| JS | Junior Simple - Children (7-9 yrs old) |
| U | Unknown (As digital items are managed through vendors, the data may be incomplete) |
| Y | Young People - 13 to 19 years old |
Item DDC Code
The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) code is structured around ten main classes covering the entire world of knowledge; each main class is further structured into ten hierarchical divisions, each having ten sections of increasing specificity. The DDC categorises items into genres for physical non-fiction items. Fiction items will not have a DDC code, and the corresponding value will be "Not Applicable". As digital items are managed through vendors, the data may be incomplete.
Transaction (Txn) Branch Name
Library branch where transaction occurred. The list of Public Library branches are updated at: www.nlb.gov.sg/main/visit-us/our-libraries-and-locations. Digital platforms NLB subscribe to for e-resources are HyRead, iRead, and Overdrive.
Patron Residential Status Code
Residential status of a patron in Singapore (as determined by a combination of ICA's system records & patron's input at point of registration)
| Value | Residential Status |
|---|---|
| A | Alien / Foreigner |
| C | Singapore Citizen |
| P | Permanent Resident |
| N | Not Applicable |
| U | Unknown |