Thursday, April 30, 2009

I'm a member of the National Library!


I finally joined the National Library of Malaysia. My colleague actually pumped that idea into me and indirectly reminded me about its existence. Before that I had no desire to become a member, but when the National Library was mentioned by him in our casual conversation, I reevaluated my stand. I would join it for this reason and I did: I have always wanted to read Malay literature and by joining the library, I would have access to many, many, many Malay books!

So I applied online and a day later, received this email reply:
PENDAFTARAN AHLI PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA

Tuan/Puan

Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa permohonan anda untuk menjadi ahli Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia telah diterima. Sila datang ke Kaunter Pendaftaran Aras 1, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia dengan membawa satu salinan kad pengenalan untuk mengaktifkan Kad Pembaca anda.

Terima kasih kerana menggunakan perkhidmatan kami.

Sekian terima kasih

Unit Pendaftaran, Penerangan dan Aduan Awam
Bahagian Khidmat Pelanggan
Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia


My translation:

NATIONAL LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform that your application for the National Library membership has been accepted. Please visit the Registration Counter at Level 1, National Library of Malaysia, with a copy of your identity card to activate your Reader's Card.

Thank you for using our service.

Registration, Information and Public Complaint Unit
Customer Service Department
National Library of Malaysia


I plan to visit the library this Sunday to activate my Card. I can't wait to dig into books in the Malay language! More updates coming soon!

And here's another thing that I'm waiting in anticipation for tomorrow: The MPH Warehouse Sale!

Updated @ 9.00 AM on May 1: Please do not get me wrong that the National Library only has books in Malay. Other languages are available too but my focus is to obtain access to Malay books for FREE. The best way I could think of (short of robbing a bookstore) is to become a member and get quality literature there. I love the Malay language and it's my favourite since I was a young kid. So there you go. There are books of other languages there.
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14 commented:

  1. i saw the banners abt mph sale a few weeks back near the jaya supermarket.

    i'm a member of the n.lib since form 3 :) but there are lots of problem with them.

    1. books are not updated (old)
    2. too far and not accessible by public transport.
    3. can borrow few books only.
    4. Must return back to the same lib.
    5. duration too short.

    However, pls correct me if i'm wrong, as form 3 was decades ago :P

    PS. Down south, point 1-4 is all the total opposite and yoou'll even get to download free audio/ebooks :)

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  2. OMG here comes another sale for Alice, where do you keep all those books???

    All the best, may you find some great bargains :)

    ReplyDelete

  3. And I thought you can get other languages books in the national library as well? Well, in Britain even in the local area library, you always get lots of new novels and literature stocked up. AND believe it or not, you can find quite a well stocked literature in other languages too, Mandarin, Japanese, Tamil, Korean etc... I am surprised...

    ReplyDelete

  4. Hi Anon, I know exactly what you mean. After all, you've brought me touring around while I was down south. You even showed me how the system works. I'll check out the National Library and "report" my findings ya. Member is allowed to borrow three books for up to three weeks, renewable for another three weeks... (I think) :D

    Hi Violet, storage is an issue now... LOL!

    Hi George, of course you can get books of other languages there. MY focus is to get Malay books and because I don't want to buy them (I may, in the future), I decided to use the library instead of building my own, like I did for my English books.

    ReplyDelete

  5. I've been a lib member back home and have been wanting to be a member of the National Lib ever since I came to KL and visited the place. My main problem however, boils down to one point: Transport inconvenience as it's too far away from my house :(

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  6. Good for you Alice, I'm a member of National Library too but it has been quite sometimes now since I've been there, more than 10 years now. The main reasons is transport conveniences, 2nd is during those days I'm doing my research/assignments and N.L do not have many access to journals and books I required.

    I'm positively sure they have lots of Malay literature books and I'm so happy to know you love to read Malay literature. Here are some good Malay literature books worth reading:

    1. Hujan pagi - A. Samad Said
    2. Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck - Hamka
    3. Seorang Tua di Kaki Gunung - Azizi Haji Abdullah.
    4. Badai Semalam - Khadijah Hashim
    5. Langit Petang - A. Samad Said
    6. Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan - Shahnon Ahmad
    7. Laila Majnun - Hamka
    8. Salina - A. Samad Said
    9. Siti Nurbaya - Marah Rusli

    ReplyDelete

  7. Thanks for the recommendation, Azah! I've read some of the books you mentioned:

    1. Hujan pagi - A. Samad Said
    2. Seorang Tua di Kaki Gunung - Azizi Haji Abdullah
    3. Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan - Shahnon Ahmad

    Shahnon Ahmad and A. Samad Said are my favourite Malay authors. I'm going to check out the rest. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete

  8. Hi FloFlo and Azah, transportation is also the reason why I put off being a member for so long.

    Another thing is the availability of certain titles, but because the type of books I'm looking for has now changed i.e. Malay literature, I believe it would be worthwhile to make the trip to N.L. perhaps once a month.

    I'll see how this arrangement works out. I hope it'll be good.

    ReplyDelete

  9. Berita Terkini!!!

    Perpustakaan Negara akan berpindah di depan KL Sentral. Kerja kerja membina sedang giat dijalankan.

    Tarikh akan siap: 01 Januari 3030.

    Untuk keterangan lanjut, sila panggil Biro 'Berkhidmat Untuk Negara' di talian 03-56383897.

    Majulah Sukan Untuk Negara.

    Sekian,
    Terima Kasih.

    ReplyDelete

  10. Anon, you're too funny! For a moment you got me all excited... And then the message gets nuttier and nuttier... LOL!

    ReplyDelete

  11. That is such a neat thing to do. I'm very interested in the Malay Literature and am eager to here some reviews. Congrats!

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  12. That's great, Alice! I love libraries.

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  13. Hi Jaimie, I did my library trip today and borrowed three Malay books! Can't wait to dig into them. :D

    Ana, I love libraries (when I was young) and now the passion is rekindled!

    ReplyDelete

  14. How about going by RapidKL bus? Someone said bus B114 from KLCC can go to the PNM, but in RapidKL website, it says B103. I wonder which one it is?

    ReplyDelete

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