Penang opens Third Digital Library in Batu Maung

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2 -- Penang launched its third Penang Digital Library (PDL) in Southbay Plaza, Batu Maung, near here today.

The PDL, making up a total area of approximately 353.03 sq metres, was designed with a modern contemporary concept and consisted of the four main areas, namely the registration area, digital library, lounge area and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Learning Centre.

State Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the opening ceremony, said that the Batu Maung PDL was in line with the state government’s initiative in turning the southwest Penang Island district into an attraction hub.

“This ‘community library’ concept is the latest initiative of the state government in providing the people with the  platform and wider network (to connect), involving very minimum costs of construction and operations,” he said in his speech, noting that the state government would also work closely with key industry players under the 4P (Public-Private Professional Partnership) concept.

Also present were Batu Maung assemblyman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, Mah Sing chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang and chief operating officer Everlyn Khaw.

Meanwhile, at the press conference, Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) deputy general manager Bharathi Suppiah said that currently, the database for the Batu Maung PDL consisted of around 3,000 e-books and journals.

She said that the PDL would be partnering with the national library to have access to more e-books in the future.

“We are expecting to have 20,000 more e-books for our PDL database by next year,” she said.

She also said that the fourth PDL located in Dewan Ria, Butterworth, was currently 85 per cent completed.

“The infrastructure for the (fourth) digital library in Dewan Ria will be completed by December this year and expected to be operational by January 2020,” she added.

The PDL project was first initiated in 2016 with the opening of the first PDL building in Jalan Masjid Negeri, and the second phase of the PDL (PDL-P2), which was designed based on the ‘Library in the Park’ concept, was opened in January this year at the same location.

-- BERNAMA