PUTRAJAYA Corporation (PPj) offered 40 children a rare opportunity to spend the night at a library as part of an initiative to build stronger reading habits among young people.
“Night at the Library: Magical Edition” at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (PPK) in Precinct 8 began with the children arriving dressed as famous fantasy characters such as Harry Potter, Medusa and the Queen of Hearts for the best dressed competition.
PPj senior assistant director (librarian) Nornie Masiha Ab. Manan said the programme was one of its innovative efforts to attract more children to visit the library.
She said the aim was to give participants a unique experience of exploring the library through enjoyable night‑time activities.
“One of the highlights was ‘Night Quest’, where the children were divided into groups and tasked with completing challenges at checkpoints located in different sections of the library.
“Another activity required participants to use the library’s search portal to locate books, helping them become more familiar with the system.
“The challenges also encouraged teamwork, communication and problem‑solving skills,” she said.
PPj president Datuk Mohd Sakeri Abdul Kadir also dropped in to present prizes to the best dressed participants.
Nornie added that libraries were often perceived as quiet places, but the programme showed they could also be lively and engaging spaces for children.
“The children were filled with excitement and laughter during the night,” said Nornie.
“I am certain this will become a sweet and unforgettable memory for everyone involved.
“A nominal fee of RM50 per child was charged to cover costs. Each child received a goodie bag, which included a sleeping bag that they used for the night.”
Besides promoting reading habits and introducing children to a library environment, the programme also featured enrichment activities such as storytelling sessions, general knowledge quizzes, religious talk and morning exercise.
Nornie also expressed hope that more people would become PPK members and join its growing community of learners.
There are four PPKs in Putrajaya, in Precincts 8, 9, 11 and 16, she added.
The centres were established to provide the local community with greater access to knowledge, educational programmes and learning facilities.
Among services available are book loans, reading rooms, multimedia and computer facilities, as well as educational and literacy programmes for children and families.
One of the unique attractions of the centres is their multicultural children’s library collection, featuring books from countries such as South Korea, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan.
The centres are open Tuesdays to Sundays. For details, visit ppk3.ppj.gov.my
