Yuliana (left) attending to Najwa who donated books after decluttering her home.
A COMMUNITY library tucked within Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor Baru, has shown how one person’s old book can be another person’s new adventure.
The Sultan Ismail Library (PSI) Kampung Melayu Majidee branch, run by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), organises a book exchange programme twice a month, where the public can donate books and pick out pre-loved ones to take home.
Sammi Wong, a 44-year-old homemaker from Masai, said she found out about the programme and decided to bring along her daughter, a Year Four pupil.
“We drove about 20km to the community library because my daughter wanted to donate some of her books.
“She then took home some books on craft and cooking.
“It was a great way to spend our weekend and I hope there will be more of such programmes to expose children to more books,” she told StarMetro.
Another visitor Adam Low, 43, said the programme was good but it needed to be better promoted.
“I think it is a good way of extending the lifespan of books.
“It will help to get people to read more and build a better reading community,” said the hobby store owner who dropped off five books at the library during his first visit.
Low then picked up some science fiction books from the library’s vast collection.
“I also enjoy the atmosphere as there are comfortable seats for us to read books,” he added.
Retiree Najwa Mohd Ayub, 61, decided to donate her religious and history books after decluttering her home.
“I hope that my old books will get a second life and be appreciated by others.
“I will sort through more books in my house and donate those soon,” she said.
MBJB assistant librarian Yuliana Sirkam said the programme was introduced last October as a way to share books among the wider community, instead of just storing books.
“We accept all kinds of books, including fiction, non-fiction, academic and children’s ones as well as multilingual titles.
“Some donors have even contributed new books,” she said.
The programme is held monthly at the library where visitors have access to a wider book selection.
It is also held monthly at selected locations outside the library in conjunction with community events.
Yuliana stressed that donors were not obligated to take books in return.
The initiative, she observed, had drawn various visitors, including students, professionals and retirees.
Some of them spend hours browsing titles at the branch.
“The largest single donation so far was 300 books, which were quickly snapped up.
“The branch currently has about 40,000 books in its collection.
“With this and a growing community of readers, we encourage more people to donate, browse or simply enjoy reading at the library.
“Who knows, they may just discover their next great read,” she added.
The PSI Kampung Melayu Majidee branch is located at No.11, Jalan Aman, Kampung Melayu Majidee.
Those interested can check out PSI’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/psimbjb or call 07-239 1795 for upcoming book exchange sessions.
