On a trip to Singapore with his parents (John & Elizabeth), Lance Gokongwei happened upon the Bukit Batok Community Library located inside the West Mall. He was inspired by the idea and felt a need for something similar in the Philippines. Wanting to contribute positively to the future of the Philippines, Lance organised a committee composed of Atty. Manuel del Rosario from JG Summit Human Resources, Andy Maningo from Cebu Pacific, Perlita Vicente as an independent social worker consultant, his mother Elizabeth Gokongwei and himself to work on the concept at around the first quarter of 1999.

The committee organised activities with Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), now Department of Education, and prepared a workshop with 20+ public schools of Pasig City represented. They also brainstormed with top educators in the University the Philippines.

Sometime around the third quarter of 1999, Mrs. Anne Cheock was invited to join the team and became Program Director of the first branch - the Robinsons Galleria Children's Library, which at the time was just a vision and mission written down on paper.In July 2000, The Children's Library concept was launched with a frenzy of activities. In 2002, Ms. Joan R. Cosico was appointed Managing Director of the Children's Library.

July 11, 2000 - The Children's Library-Ortigas
April 1, 2001 - The Children's Library-Imus
October 24, 2001 - The Children's Library-Novaliches
October 2003 - The Children's Library-Ortigas was closed to give way to the opening of two Children's Library Corners at San Juan Municipal Library & Pasig City Library Learning Resource Center on the same year.