Sim showing his records of books that he has rented out over the years.
IT was 9am, and Sim Cho Seng sat alone at his storybook rental stall in Sibu Central Market, patiently waiting for customers.
“Every day has been the same for me for years now. Walk-in customers are rare these days. People just aren’t reading physical books anymore. What can I do? I still have so many books in my library,” lamented Sim, 72.
These days, his time is often spent chatting with friends who drop by for a visit.
The storybook rental business, once bustling with avid readers, has been in steady decline, eclipsed by digital platforms and changing reading habits.
The rise of e-books, subscription services like Kindle Unlimited and Scribd, and free digital libraries have made it easy for readers to access vast collections without stepping outside. Traditional book rental stalls like Sim’s are vanishing in the wake of this technological wave.
Sim, one of the last remaining operators in Sibu, has witnessed this shift firsthand.
“My business started going downhill during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Then the advent of technology and mobile phones dealt the final blow,” he shared.
Sim’s extensive collection includes vintage comics, (below) romance novels and rare old Chinese books.
As digital alternatives continue to flourish, Sim finds himself contemplating the closure of his lifelong trade.
“Youths today prefer reading on their phones or tablets. Many of my loyal customers have either stopped reading or are dealing with old age and poor eyesight,” he said.
His library holds an impressive 50,000 to 70,000 books, spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s.
“I have Chinese, English, and some Bahasa Malaysia books. My English collection includes popular authors like Barbara Cartland, Mills & Boon romances, and Denise Robins.
“My Chinese books feature ghost stories and romances from as early as the 1960s, printed in Taiwan and Hong Kong. If someone wants to buy the entire collection, I’d be happy to sell so I can finally close shop,” he said with a tinge of finality.
Sim no longer rents out books but focuses on selling them. Yet, sales are slow, with buyers mainly seeking rare or out-of-print titles.
The present reality is a far cry from his business’ golden era.
Sim began his storybook rental service in 1970 at the age of 18, transforming his father’s fruit stall on Jalan Market into a makeshift library. In 2002, after the old building was demolished, he relocated to the Central Market.
“Back then, most homes didn’t have television, and mobile phones were unheard of. Books were in high demand. I stocked up to 20 copies of each title.
“I had 300 to 400 members and charged 70 sen for a three-day rental. Non-members paid a RM3 deposit per book, and only trusted acquaintances could become members,” Sim recalled.
Initially offering only Chinese books, Sim expanded to English titles based on customer demand. His collection grew from a few hundred books to thousands.
“Whatever genre you name – ghost stories, romance, adventure – I had them all,” he said proudly.
Women formed 80% of his customer base, including students, office workers and timber camp employees.
“Timber workers borrowed books for one to three months. I even had bookworms who read 40 to 50 books a week. When some members passed away, I never got their books back,” he mused.
Despite being surrounded by books for decades, Sim confessed he had never been much of a reader himself.
“People are surprised when I tell them I don’t read books. I didn’t enjoy studying either. I started this business simply because it was my livelihood,” he admitted.
As Sibu’s last storybook rental operator, Sim recognises that the industry is fading fast.
“The days of physical books are over,” he said quietly.
When Sim finally closes his shop, it will not only be the end of his personal journey but also the closing chapter of a unique part of Sibu’s history.
