WALK into a public library in Ipoh on any weekend, and you will find something surprisingly traditional: tables filled with young people engrossed in physical books.
Despite the pull of smartphones and social media, a steady stream of children and teenagers are still choosing ink on paper over screens.
For 10-year-old P. Shashmitha, spending time at the library every Saturday is something she looks forward to.
“I love coming to the library here because I want to learn more and gain knowledge. It is quiet here and I can concentrate on my books,” she said when met at the Perak State Public and Digital Library Open Day and Children’s Literature and Arts Festival in Ipoh.
Shashmitha said going to the library made her happy.
“Even during recess at school, I will eat quickly so that I can go to the school library to read.”
Shashmitha, who has two other siblings, said when the state public library was temporarily closed last year, she and her family went to the Tun Razak Library, which is run by Ipoh City Council.
But the Perak state library offers more facilities, especially now, following an upgrade, and she is thrilled to be back here.
Digital screens, she finds, offer too many interruptions.
“When I want to read an e-book, there may be calls or messages. I don’t like that. In the library, I can just look at the books, pick one and start reading.”
She enjoys reading stories and has a collection of story books and exercise books at home.
Early encouragement
Shashmitha’s mother, R. Yogeswary, 40, said cultivating an interest in reading must begin early.
The former kindergarten teacher noticed her daughter’s interest took off when she wandered into the book sectionof a hypermarket and started browsing.
“Her interest pushed me further to bring my children to the library regularly,” she said.
“Apart from going to the library, I would also teach my children the basics such as identifying the alphabet and numbers, teaching them mathematics and syllables, and reading stories to them at home.
“We have to make them interested in reading from a young age. I think all these efforts have helped grow their interest in going to the library.”
Senior customs officer R. Kavitha, 39, has taken a similar approach with her 13-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, who do not own smartphones.
She said libraries gave children access to thousands of books, far beyond what any home collection could offer.
“They can also have their own quiet and relaxing time with books around them,” Kavitha added.
“They can use the computers and take part in interactive activities here instead of being stuck on phones.
“The library also gives my children opportunities to interact with others and learn how to distinguish between positive and negative influences,” she added.
Distraction-free environment
Older students also find refuge in physical pages.
Nur Aina Humaira Hedir, 16, who visits her school library two to three times a week, prefers physical books over digital ones.
“When reading comics online, there are sometimes too many advertisements and it shifts our focus. I would rather buy a book.
“People nowadays spend so much time on their phones. I think books are better, and going to the library gives you a sense of peace,” she said.
For 19-year-old university student Nur Iffah Nabilah, who has visited libraries since the age of five, the setting helps her concentrate.
“I come to the library to continue developing my mind as well as finding new resources,” she said, adding that she would routinely spend more than two hours at her university library reading and researching.
She hoped more from the younger generation would visit the library regularly.
“Go to the library so our minds can function better. The library environment is more enjoyable than staying at home or spending time at places that are not beneficial.”
Parental leadership
Immigration officer Khalid Ruslan, 39, said parents held the primary responsibility for shaping their children’s reading habits.
He sets strict screen-time limits for his four-year-old son, who has developed a keen interest in animals through library trips.
“We make sure he has a time limit for using the phone. We play with him and bring him to the library to introduce him to books,” Khalid said.
Although his son is still young and might not fully understand the stories, Khalid and his wife would read books to him.
“He now looks for books about animals and zoos whenever we come to the library. After reading about zoos, he even creates his own zoo using toy animals.”
Khalid added that physical books hold a child’s attention far better than moving screens.
“With channels like YouTube Kids, he may watch something for a few seconds and then change to another video. He gets distracted easily.
“But with a physical book, he finds it more interesting and does not get bored as quickly.”
Khalid stressed that cultivating reading habits was not solely the responsibility of teachers.
“My wife is a teacher, but that does not automatically make our child read or be interested in going to the library.
“Every parent has to take the initiative to cultivate an interest among their children,” he said.
Interactive experience
Housewife Haslina Hashim, 45, said physical books offered a tactile experience that screens could not replicate.
“My husband and I encouraged our children to learn Bahasa Malaysia and Dutch from a young age, while exposing them to books containing illustrations, colours, letters and different forms of artwork,” she said.
“Reading from a young age is very important. Books are interactive – children can hold them, turn the pages, and look at the illustrations.”
Haslina added that handling books helped young children develop fine motor skills.
“They can remember the pages, not just the letters and pictures. There is much more to a book.”
School initiatives
Schools also play a crucial role in maintaining these habits.
Teacher Fadzilah Yasin, 44, said dedicated time slots - such as those under the Nilam programme - were essential as overall reading rates declined.
The Nilam (Nadi Ilmu Amalan Membaca) programme is an Education Ministry initiative to build a lifelong reading habit among primary and secondary school students.
“If we don’t provide them with a specific time or slot for reading, they may not have the initiative to do it themselves,” said Fadzilah, a school librarian.
To keep students engaged, she regularly asked them what they wanted to read and stocked up the shelves accordingly, while blending traditional reading with modern technology.
“In this digital era, I also provide tablets and computers with Internet access so students can use them to find information.
“We have both physical books and digital facilities.”
Dozens of schoolchildren taking part in the Perak State Public and Digital Library Open Day and Children’s Literature and Arts Festival at the upgraded library in Ipoh.
The newly refurbished Perak State Public and Digital Library in Jalan Raja DiHilir, Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/THE STAR
Galeri Perak Kite is a heritage gallery established as part of an upgrading project of the library.
Children playing with a fire truck at the newly opened toy library.
Shashmitha loves going to the library to learn and gain more knowledge.
Fadzilah says dedicated time slots are essential as students may lack initiative to read themselves.
Khalid says physical books hold a child’s attention far better than moving screens.
Nur Iffah goes to the library to develop her mind, research and find new resources.
Haslina exposes her children to books containing illustrations, colours, letters and different forms of artwork.
