Penang Digital Library to be expanded

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Digital Library (PDL), Malaysia's first digital library which acts a catalyst for the next phase of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) development, will be expanding says Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) deputy general manager, S. Bharathi.
She said following resounding response to the library, there was a need for expansion as the existing 4,000 sq ft area could only accommodate 120 visitors at any one time.
According to Bharathi the PDL had been operating 24-hour daily since May 1, 2017 and to cope with the increasing demand, an additional building known as PDL2 would be constructed.
"Since its opening in October 2016, the library had been receiving up to 3,000 visitors monthly, most of whom were students, school leavers and young executives," she told Bernama.
She added that the library provides users with structured access to information and knowledge via over 3,000 e-book titles on STEM and general reading, which in future would increase to over 20,000 books.
The library was an initiative supported by the state government in collaboration with Keysight Technologies, Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Group and TIME dotCom with CMI as the state investment arm to manage the asset.
The PDL2 project on a 16,000 sq ft area, will be built with a "library in the park" concept adjacent to the existing PDL along Jalan Masjid Negri and is expected to be completed by December.
Bharathi added that CMI was working closely with a multinational company (MNC) to provide animation teaching programme to be conducted at the PDL2.
"We are negotiating with various MNCs on providing more programmes for young children to prepare them for industry needs," she said.
To access to all e-books, the public has to register as a member of the library and the annual fee is RM60 for adults and RM30 for students. — Bernama