ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute Library and Archives SEALion / SEALionPLUS

History and Founding

The ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute was established as an autonomous statutory organization by an Act of Parliament in Singapore in 1968. Conceived by then Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee, who recognized that Singapore needed rigorous research on its Southeast Asian neighbors for national survival, the institute was formally proposed to Cabinet in October 1966. Originally named the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), the organization was renamed in August 2015 in honor of Singapore's first President, Yusof Ishak. ISEAS is a statutory board under the purview of Singapore's Ministry of Education.

Library and Archives

Since its establishment in 1968, the ISEAS Library has functioned as a specialized knowledge hub for Southeast Asian studies. Its collection encompasses close to 400,000 items including printed monographs, journals, maps, microforms of regional newspapers and journals, theses, antiquarian books, and press clippings. The library also maintains a rich private papers collection comprising donated materials from more than 30 prominent individuals, including David Marshall and Tan Cheng Lock, providing primary source material for 20th-century Southeast Asian political and social history.

Digital Collections

The library operates SEALion (Southeast Asian Studies Library Integrated Online), its primary online catalogue, and SEALionPLUS, a digital archives platform active since 2015. SEALionPLUS provides access to digitized special materials including private papers, photographs, and oral history interviews. The oral history project, initiated in 1973, includes interviews documenting the Japanese Occupation, Singapore's post-war period, and the careers of prominent figures in Myanmar, business, education, and politics across Southeast Asia.

Access and Usage

The ISEAS Library is open to all members of the public with an interest in Southeast Asian studies. Physical collections are available at the Singapore premises; digital collections via SEALionPLUS are accessible online. ISEAS Publishing has produced more than 2,000 titles since the early 1970s and distributes research to over 100 countries.