The Raja Tun Uda Library has thousands of books, references and other reading material that you can borrow or just browse through.
Recently, a Malaysian influencer got Netizens all riled up after posting on social media pictures of him and his friends inside a beautiful store he described as a “library”. It turns out that this library was actually a bookshop (BookXcess) in Setia Alam, Selangor, which opened last year.
The influencer was mocked for not knowing the difference between a library and a bookshop, prompting him to apologise later in a separate post for his ignorance.
The said shop is touted to be the country’s first bookstore to adopt a “tunnel” design concept, which looks like a silo with books arranged around it both on the outer and inner layers of the wall.
It’s a really beautiful store, and has been branded as one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Selangor.
If you can’t afford to buy books at the moment, or have overspent your monthly limit, why not head to the library to borrow some titles? Malaysia has many libraries, and some are quite charming in their own way, and provide for an alternative “holiday” trip around the city.
Also known as Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, this library is set within a park in Petrajaya, Kuching. The State Mosque and Minaret Gardens are also located in the huge park, which makes it an ideal place to do some light reading or even perhaps, revision.
There’s a lake in front of the library, as well as areas where you can have picnics or hold public performance/exhibitions, a playground, pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes.
This ultra modern library is near the Blue Mosque and Shah Alam Lake Gardens in Selangor. The Raja Tun Uda Library, also known as the Selangor State Library, is a six-storey building equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
It’s a great place for the whole family to spend the weekend as there are theatres, gymnasiums and other creative spaces within the facility.
The Sabah State Library has three branches in Kota Kinabalu. Its latest, the Tanjung Aru branch, officially opened in April 2019. This six-storey building has a unique shape, while its interior is filled with motifs and designs inspired by Sabah’s ethnic communities. There are several sections within the building, with the kids’ section being the most vibrant, carrying a colourful “under the sea” theme.
There’s also a Maker Studio room with projects organised by Petrosains, a Jamming Studio where you can rent music equipment by the hour and many cool spots like the Reading Net where you can read while lying on a huge net suspended over several floors.
The best thing is that this library – before the movement control order – is open seven days a week, including on public holidays, so it’s a great place to spend your weekends with the family.
This library is like a multi-function building; it has a mini auditorium, a conference hall, a multi-purpose room, a training room, exhibition rooms and more.
The Kuala Lumpur Library, formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, was upgraded some time back and had just reopened late last year. It’s a stunning building with wonderful architectural designs and is located near Merdeka Square.
If you’re doing a walking tour of the city, pop into the library for a look at its gorgeous interior, or just check out some of the books available there.
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