The freshly painted mini libraries are an eye-catching attraction in Beach Street. – Photos by CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
A ROW of derelict phone cubicles along Beach Street, George Town, has been turned into cosy mini libraries.
The booths, repainted in bright yellow, red, baby blue and pink, are now filled with books.
Each booth also has a phone charging port and a bench.
All five mini libraries costing RM9,000 were an initiative by Penggerak Komuniti Muda (Peka) to cultivate the reading habit and for book lovers to exchange books with the community.
Peka executive director Joshua Woo got the idea back in 2019 when he chanced upon the vandalised phone cubicles.
“I wanted to change the cubicles into something iconic, useful and pleasing,” he said when contacted.
“Back then, I was trying to come up with project ideas to involve youths,” added Woo, who is a book collector himself.
Woo restocking reading materials at one of the transformed phone booths.
He said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) was supportive of the idea.
“The city council helped us to landscape the surroundings as well as to instal lights and USB ports.”
Woo said the project which began in September 2019 was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We welcome the public to use the mini libraries and return the books once they’re done.
“We hope everyone will take good care of the mini libraries and not vandalise them,” he added. – By RENA LIM
