I met Mr Independent

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Reading between the lines
By KUPLUTHAI PUNGKANON
THE NATION

 

 

Less than a month after opening, the new Bangkok City Library is already an unqualified success

 

BANGKOK: -- NO DOUBT the low membership fee can take part of the credit, but the long queues that form every day at the newly opened Bangkok City Library bode well for future of the written word in a country that up until recently had not been known for a reading culture. 

 

The new library marks another step forward in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s efforts to live up to its selection as the World Book Capital for 2013, an initiative set up by Unesco to acknowledge a city’s programmes dedicated to books and reading.

 

And in this the BMA has been vindicated. Within days of its opening, the Bt296-million Bangkok City Library on Rajdamnoen Klang Road had acquired more than 10,000 members. Some, like an elderly reader from Bang Khae, are coming to the library every day, spending their time going through the books or just taking pleasure in the ambience. 

 

 

Membership is cheaper than the one-time parking fee in the area, going for Bt10 for those above the age of 15 and Bt5 for kids. And before too long, one sole membership card will be recognised at all 36 of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s libraries. 

 

More than 50,000 books line the bookshelves classed under the Dewey Decimal Classification system and it is planned to increase the stock to 100,000 by the end of the year. There is also a section for Braille and audio books and more than 10,000 e-books available through the Bangkok City Library app that members can read on their smart devices. Choices are valid for seven days.

 

Refurbished while respecting the original building’s neo-classical structure, Bangkok City Library provides a massive 4,880 square metres of reading space spread over three floors and a mezzanine. Owned by the Crown Property Bureau, the building was one of those envisaged by King Rama V as part of his programme for Rajdamnoen Avenue to connect the Grand Palace to Dusit Palace.

 

Inspired by the Champs Elysees in Paris, construction began on the wide pavement in 1899. Architects; Mom Luang Poom Malakul and Chitsane Abhaiwong designed the buildings, which were constructed between 1939 and 1948 and included both public and commercial facilities, a theatre and a hotel. 

 

The interior of the library is modern and spacious. Based on the concept “Wisdom of Light” in accordance with the royal initiative that compares learning to light, the design is such that natural light streams in through the windows, especially in the reading and working areas, which can easily seat 1,000 members. 

 

Like in other BMA libraries, the ambience is relaxed with titles focusing more on general knowledge than the world of academia.

 

There’s a coffee shop, a 30-seat theatre for use by public and private organisations, meeting rooms, a section where kids can read and play and three exhibition areas.

 

On the first floor, visitors can enjoy reading new books, magazines and newspapers while sipping coffee. This area is also home to more than 2,600 Braille and audio books, a corner for computers, guide books and a tourist information booth. The royal words of the late King Rama IX about reading and learning hang on the walls so that readers will be inspired by his wisdom. Temporary exhibitions on this floor are aimed at promoting art and culture, history, and communities. The first is called “Book Nomads” and features images of the library building before it was revamped. There is also a small movie theatre that can be used by students. 

 

The mezzanine is given over to kids and is a veritable treasure trove of books and games. Based on the concept “Play, Learn, and Grow together with the Light of Wisdom”, it stocks almost 7,000 books for children and youth in Thai and other languages. A stage has been erected for small plays or story-telling activities and a playroom has been added where the little ones can make noise, laugh, climb or sleep. The purpose of this floor, the librarians explain is to show children that learning is playing. 

 

 

Books in foreign languages can be found on the second floor along with a multi-purpose event space that seats 200. Three study rooms have also been installed for private meetings and research. The 19,000-odd books on this floor include tomes about Asean, literary works, classic novels, documents and archives such as funeral memorial books as well as books from the Ma-rauy Stock Exchange of Thailand Library. Four special bookcases display the Chinese encyclopaedias presented by Guangzhou city in 2015. 

 

The uppermost level is home to volumes about the Thai royal family and royal initiatives, as well as rare publications from the 50 BMA districts and two exhibition areas. The Hall of Fame is fitted with LCD touch screens that allow readers to discover royally initiated projects related to Bangkok covering everything from protecting the environment to promoting health and solving the city’s chronic flooding problems. 

 

A smaller room is being used for temporary exhibitions, the first of which features the Department of Public Work’s project for the conservation of Khlong San district. 

 

While the Bangkok City Library is the biggest of the nine initiatives announced by the BMA during its tenure as World Book Capital, the Administration has been effective in promoting reading all over the city. Its “Discovery Mobile Library”, for example, now has six carriages and continues to inspire readers all over Bangkok. And the BMA libraries in each district have received praise for their efforts to distinguish themselves by designing their services around different themes. Chanhun Bamphen Library in Huay Kwang, for instance, highlights cartoons, Central Library of KMITL in Ladkrabang district prides itself on being a “green” library with a collection of books on environment and eco-energy and Phasi Charoen Discovery Learning Library stimulates young readers with storytelling. 

 

ON THE PAGE

- The Bangkok City Library is open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am to 9pm and on Sunday from 9am to 10pm. Parking is not available.

- Entry is free on production of an ID card. 

- Foreigners can show their passports to obtain a one-day pass but are not allowed to borrow books. 

- Annual membership is Bt10 per adult (book deposit Bt40) and Bt5 per child (ID and house registration required, book deposit Bt20). 

- Free WiFi is available throughout the library. 

- Meeting rooms should be reserved in advance.

- Call (02) 245 4171, (02) 282 0680, fax (02) 246 0286 or email: [email protected].

- Join the conversation at Facebook.com/bangkokcitylibrary

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/life/art_culture/30314811

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-11

[alien365]

Not exactly foreigner friendly if we're not even allowed to take out a book from a library. Clearly we can't be trusted