2In an increasingly digitalised world, the word "library" might conjure up images of a cobwebbed building where books on shelves gather dust. Yet the public welcome for the Bangkok City Library which opened early this year has given everyone a surprise.
Only time will tell whether the library will remain relevant in the so-called Thailand 4.0 era. But the significance of the Bangkok City Library on Ratchadamnoen Road is more than the reading it offers. It is testament to Bangkok's aspiration to become one of the world's book capitals.
The project was conceived by former Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra during the city's bid to be recognised by Unesco as The World Book Capital in 2013. The library was developed to showcase the importance of a library as a civic learning centre.
Whether you are a bookworm or not, the library is pleasing to look at and inviting to enter.
The building is based on a design almost 80 years old by Jitsen Abhaiwongse, a Thai architect who was responsible for designing many structures in the period after the end of the absolute monarchy.
The renovation won praise as the contractor managed to retain the original architecture and introduced touches of modernity for greater convenience. The library was opened on May 28 by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The highlight is a collection of historical books about monarchs from the Chakri dynasty, especially the late King Rama IX.
The Bangkok City Library is also a prototype of a modern library where the public can spend time on leisure activities -- watch movies, meet friends, though there are also dedicated reading rooms for quiet reading.
The opening days are Tuesday to Saturday, 8am to 9pm, and Sunday, 9am to 8pm. The library is closed on Mondays and holidays. It pulls about 1,500 visitors a day. On Saturdays and Sundays that swells to more than 2,000 visitors.
