The 10 Best Libraries in Bangkok


 

Posted by Mark Philip

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Although libraries have never been a particularly big thing in Thailand, over the last few years there has been something of a re-evaluation of the library concept among both academic and entrepreneurial types.

Trendy and bright young things in posh city-centre concept malls and coffee shops have taken to curling up in corners with school and university textbooks, or even…dare we say it…the occasional English literature novel.

And said eagle-eyed entrepreneurial types, ever on the lookout for new avenues of development and opportunity — along with those for a feel for innovative educational environments – have noticed this trend and started to change a few things about the way that younger people view reading and studying.

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Along with some of the more established Bangkok reading venues getting revamped, this has also meant the emergence and spread of a more modern, ‘learning environment’- type approach to libraries and reading, with plenty of new places springing up around the city.

A lot of them are usually situated in one of Bangkok’s ultra-modern concept malls, or at least somewhere close to one.

It’s almost as if libraries – or something closely akin to them – have become trendy again, particularly with younger generations who have become demanding of information in its various shapes and forms through their use of the internet, and perhaps are seeing that there may even also be life beyond a smartphone screen.

Image by Khun Suphanot sourced from wikimedia commons

Even many of the bookshops in Bangkok now have ‘graded reader’ copies of classic English literature novels that are available with different levels of difficulty, and some Thai bookshops such as B2S and SEE-ED sell copies of these novels with both English and Thai for users of both languages.

All of this has undoubtedly helped to stimulate the interest in reading among newer generations of potential bookworms in both local and international languages. Bring on the literary revolution in Bangkok!

 

In no particular order then, here are our suggestions towards some of the best libraries currently in Bangkok, where any travelling bookworms can find some kind of relative comfort amidst a range of good books, paper or otherwise!

1. Bangkok City Library

We begin with the city’s largest public library. It is located in a refurbished, three-story, 1940s building in the regions of the older quarter of the city.

It is found on the historic Ratchadamnoen Road, which is home to many other distinguished government buildings and such like, as well as the famous boxing stadium of the same name, and it also happens to be within walking distance of Khaosarn Road.

Image by Khun Supanot sourced from wikimedia commons

The original interior of the building has been transformed into more of an art deco-inspired space of late, and it houses more than 40,000 books in a wide range of different categories. In keeping with the times, the library also has available over 1,000 e-books, accessible from the library’s computers along with free WiFi.

Address: Bangkok City Library, 39 Ratchadamnoen Klang road, Bangkok
Entry fee: Free
Annual membership: B25/adult, B5 to 15/child, available for Thai citizens with valid ID and house registration only.

2. Bank of Thailand Library

This Bangkok library is located on the second and third floor of The Bank of Thailand Learning Centre.

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It is a riverside facility (complete with riverside views) also containing space for co-working which is becoming a common factor among the more modern library facilities in Bangkok these days. Members get access to more than over 30,000 books, along with 7,000 digital archives from libraries around the world. 

Address: Bank of Thailand Learning Centre, 273 Samsen Road, Watsamphraya, Bangkok
Entry fee: Free 
Annual membership: Free

3. TCDC Resource Centre

This Bangkok library is found is the relatively new Thailand Creative & Design Centre (TCDC) on Charoenkrung Road.

The modern-looking space of the centre confers almost 20,000 books related mainly to art and design, making it one of the largest collections in the country.

Along with the exhibition space, the centre also comprises auditoriums, a design shop, meeting rooms, and the co-working space likely found these days in anything with the feel of a business centre.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

The Thailand Creative & Design Centre (TCDC) was designed by the award-winning design studio in the city’s Department of Architecture. This is a great environment if you are seeking some quiet working space, with a few rooftop balconies to boot.

Address:Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok 1160
Entry: B100/day
Annual membership: B1200/adult, B600/student

4. TCDC Commons Ideo Q

Following on from the last venue, here is another TCDC-backed venue that a modern design concept that helps with forward-thinking ideas. The library is primarily focused on communications design, and is ideally located at the IDEO Q condo close to Chulalongkorn University.

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This particular initiative in the trendy Chula-Samyan area is a joint project with real estate company, Ananda Development, which has already helped to make it a popular hangout for some of Bangkok’s trendy, younger elite.

Address: 660/1508, Ideo Q, Chula-Samyan, 3rd Floor, Rama 4 Road, Bangkok 10500
Entry fee: B100/day, 10.30 am-9.00 pm
Annual membership: B600/student, B1200/adult

 

5. The Art Library at BACC

In the lower levels of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the Art Library can be encountered.

Image by Ken Ohyama sourced from wikimedia commons

This is a modern and welcoming space, with sufficient levels of warm, natural lighting, which facilitates a relaxing atmosphere. Perfect for indulging in a good book – which is lucky, as there are thousands of art books to delve into at this place if that sounds interesting.

Address: BACC, 939 Basement, Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Hours: 10.00 am – 7.30 pm (Tue-Sun)
Entry: Free
Annual membership: Free

 

6. Neilson Hays Library

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In terms of privately funded libraries, the Neilson Hays Library is Bangkok’s longest-running affair.

The library actually first appeared as far back as 1869, although at that time it was known as the Bangkok Ladies’ Library Association.

Throughout the years, Neilson Hays has developed into something more akin to a cultural centre of sorts, rather than just a library. The venue regularly plays host to a range of activities such as seminars and exhibitions. 

Address: 195 Surawong Road, Si Phaya, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Contact: www.neilsonhayslibrary.com
Entry: B100/day
Annual membership: B2,500/adult, B3,300/family

 

7. Pridi Banomyong Library

The Pridi Banomyong Library is somewhat unique in that it is the only underground library in Thailand.

Yes, that’s actually under the ground! In fact, the library actually covers four underground levels of a historic region of Thammasat University’s grounds, nearby the Chaophraya River.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

The library is considered as having one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of textbooks, journals, and written resources related to the Thai political history, for those with a particular interest in such matters.

Address: Thammasat University, Tha Phra Chan Campus, 2 Phra Chan Alley, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Entry: B20, Mon-Fri, 9.00 – 21.30
Annual membership: B500/adult
Contact: library.tu.ac.th/gallery/pridi-banomyong-library

 

8. TK Park

Thailand Knowledge Park, or TK Park, was first introduced in 2005 into the mall maze of one of Bangkok’s main shopping complexes.

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It was/is based around the concept of a ‘living library’, which is in reality an area that is something of a combination of a reading room and an activity space. The idea behind it is to develop more creativity in young readers.

TK Park has, along with many other similarly modern concepts, gone some way towards helping young Thais get more into reading.

Address: 999/9 TK Park, Central\world, 7th Floor, Bangkok 10330
Entry: B20/person/day Tue-Sunm 10.00 am – 8.00 pm
Annual membership: B200/adult, B100/child or student under 25 years old or senior citizen
Contact: www.tkpark.or.th

 

9. The Reading Room

The Reading Room is all that a trendy, comfortable, warm space with plenty of natural light for reading in a city could be.

Situated in another downtown city area, this time in the Business and tourist district of Silom, this Bangkok library comprises a beanbag-filled space with additional mattresses giving it something of a cozy living room feel.

The Reading Room is another place where budding Bangkok bookworms are able to indulge in a selection of literature on art, design, social science and philosophy. 

Address: 4th Floor, Silom 2, Soi 19, Bangkok 10500
Entry: Free
Hours: 1.00pm – 7.00pm (Wed-Sun)
Annual membership: None
Contact: www.readingroombkk.org

 

10. William Warren Library

Regular visitors to Thailand are probably already aware of the fact that Jim Thompson is the country’s largest silk company.

What many people may not be aware of though is that the company subsidizes a library that is dedicated to literature on Thai silk and Oriental textiles in general. The library opened its doors in 2007, and is likely to be of particular interest for anyone involved in or interested in the historic aspects of the Thai silk trade.

The establishment contains more than 3,000 books on the topic of textiles and weaving culture in SE Asia and other, surrounding regions.

Address: Henry B. Thompson Building, 4th Floor, Soi Kasemsan, Wangmai, Rama I Road, Bangkok
Entry fee: Free
Annual membership: B500/person
Hours: 09.00 am – 5.00 pm
Contact: www.jimthompsonartcenter.org/william-warren-library

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