Whether you go alone or with friends, libraries are a great place to escape to for all sorts of reasons. You could go when you’re studying for finals, go to explore a fictional world or even spend time with your loved ones on a cute date. With that, let Glitz bring you around the wonderful libraries around Malaysia that you should visit and explore!
1. National Library of Malaysia
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| Address | 232, Jln Tun Razak, Titiwangsa, 50572 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating hours | Tuesday to Saturday (10am – 5pm), Sunday to Monday (Closed) |
| Contact | 03-2687 1700 |
The National Library, which is located along the busy Jalan Tun Razak, is not just lovely on the outside, with its distinctive roof tiles that resemble the patterns of kain songket, a traditional handwoven cloth. It also has a wealth of materials and archives that are hard to come by in other libraries, such as ancient newspapers, magazines, and other publications.
2. The School in Jaya One
| Address | Block J, The School, Jaya One, 72A, Jln Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
| Operating hours | Every day (10am – 10pm) |
| Contact | 03-7957 4933 |
This charming library is a parent’s dream come true. The Selangor Public Library, which is conveniently located within The School in Jaya One, houses over 5,000 volumes for both adults and children. Anyone may become a member, and it is completely free. They also provide some very nice amenities that anybody may use, like printing services, seminar and reading rooms, and computers.
In addition, they provide free Wi-Fi. So, if you’re on mobile data saving mode, you can always switch to Wi-Fi mode to stay up to date with the know-how.
3. Petronas University of Technology Information Resource Centre
| Address | Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Bota, Perak |
| Operating hours | Weekday (9am – 5pm), Weekend (Closed) |
| Contact | 05-368 8486 |
Because the Universiti Teknologi Petronas Information Resource Centre (UTP IRC) serves primarily as a support centre for the university’s academic activities, it is unlikely to be available to the general public. It holds over 210,000 volumes, with collections ranging from printed to non-printed materials, as well as electronic resources. Many graduation photographs contain its trademark tall shelves, which greet those who arrive.
4. Raja Tun Uda Library
| Address | Jln Kelab Golf 13/6, Seksyen 13, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor |
| Operating hours | Every day (9am – 6pm) |
| Contact | 03-5519 7667 |
Perpustakaan (PPAS) Raja Tun Uda is a six-story ultra-modern library. It’s the ideal spot for families to spend time together, with books strewn around. The amenities on offer are also rather impressive.
The 3D and multi-sensory 6D theatres, gymnasiums, Xbox Kinect and HTC Valve, PCs with scanning and printing services, iStep interactive games, and more are among them. They also offer something called On-Location Reporter, which is designed to help you improve your presenting abilities in front of the camera.
5. Little Giraffe Book Club
| Address | 114, Jalan 15, Batu 11 Cheras, 43200 Cheras, Selangor |
| Operating hours | – |
| Contact | – |
The Little Giraffe Book Club began as a community project spearheaded by a group of kindergarten teachers with the goal of educating youngsters in the area. It’s rather astonishing how they’ve grown the charming small structure into what it is now. The majority of the materials utilised to renovate this library came from waste wood that was still in good shape. Because youngsters are encouraged to play on the tiered, wooden floors and shelves, this is possibly the noisiest library you’ll ever discover.
6. Penang Digital Library
| Address | 135, Jln Masjid Negeri, Taman Guan Joo Seng, 11600 George Town, Pulau Pinang |
| Operating hours | Every day (9am – 6pm) |
| Contact | 04-295 1527 |
Unlike the other libraries, this one does not have any books on the premises. That is, there are no actual books. All books are curated on the cloud, that’s right. Instead, this 24-hour library provides plenty of opportunities to kick back, relax, and read your “digital” book.
The entrance fee is waived, as is parking in the surrounding region. You will, however, need to join up for an annual subscription in order to “borrow” an e-book and read it. Normal users pay RM60 per year, while students pay RM30. It’s quite cost-effective and efficient, especially because you can read such books on the move, no matter where you are in Malaysia.
7. L45 Kurau Community Library
| Address | 45, Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating hours | Every day (12pm – 9pm) |
| Contact | – |
From afar, you’d never guess that this structure houses over 35,000 volumes waiting to be read. It literally puts the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover” into action. The L45 Kurau Community Library is also home to certain students, which is an intriguing fact. This structure was designed by an unnamed individual who wanted to recreate his experience in London years ago and generate a sense of camaraderie among students from all backgrounds.
The entire establishment appears inconspicuous, yet you will be amazed by the amount of work and attention that went into its creation. There are eight rooms with ensuite bathtubs available for students to rent, as well as a big communal library.
8. Desa Kampung Endah Library
| Address | Kampung Endah, 70450 Banting, Selangor |
| Operating hours | – |
| Contact | – |
This little children’s library in Kampung Endah is an initiative of the Selangor Public Library Corporation (Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor). Eleena Jamil Architect recently transformed it from its initial 100-square-foot construction into a bright, contemporary, and inviting area for young readers.
