THE recently launched Pandan Jaya community library located along Jalan Pandan 4, Ampang has been a hit with locals who have been fully utilising the various modern facilities and equipment available.
"From what I was told, the library is visited by up to 1,000 people a day.
"We hope that this library will change the perception of locals regarding community libraries that are usually seen as old and outdated," Selangor education, higher education and human resources development committee executive Dr Halimah Ali said at the launch of the facility recently.
Cool comfort : The open and air-conditioned new Pandan Jaya community library encourages visitors to linger and pick up a book.The 510.96sq m library has several features including seven free-to-use computers including an iMac as well as broadband Internet access.
There are also two 52-inch plasma televisions in the children and magazine sections while other facilities include a surau, baby room, cafeteria, multi-purpose hall, seminar room and reading room.
She added that currently, the Selangor Public Libraries Corporation (PPAS) where she is chairman, manages 96 community libraries including three mobile ones.
"This library is part of our PPAS rebranding project using the My Second Home concept. We hope that the community, particularly students, will be able to make full use of it rather than hang out in malls," she said.
Corporation director Mastura Muhamad said the facility cost RM400,000 to build.
Hello there!: PPAS mascots Alif and Anis greeting the children at the community library launch."The building construction including several new rooms cost RM200,000. As for the interior furnishings and equipment it was RM100,000 while we had RM100,000 to spend on books," she said, adding that RM250,000 was from the state government while an additional RM150,000 was from Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad.
Cempaka assemblyman Iskandar Abdul Samad hoped visitors would be able to care for the library and not let it become rundown.
"We can give the best facilities and continue to repair and fix whatever gets broken but it is of no use if the users have an irresponsible attitude," he said, adding that the library could serve as a catalyst to turning this attitude around - CHOONG MEK ZHIN, STAR METRO. PHOTOS BY RAYMOND OOI.