THE Penang State Public Library Corporation (PPAPP) has spent over RM2.4 million this year to purchase new reading materials.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, who is also the PPAPP board member, said the expenditure involved 68 libraries under the corporation.
“A total of RM1,013,688.65 was spent to buy 48,041 Bahasa Malaysia reading materials; while RM613,577.49 was spent to purchase 19,845 reading materials in English.
“The cost to purchase 6,297 Chinese language reading materials is RM204,380.10; whereas, about RM200,000 was used to buy 5,553 Tamil reading materials,” he told a press conference at PPAPP in Seberang Jaya, Butterworth today.
Soon said the corporation had planned to add more reading materials next year to encourage people to read.
Also present was PPAPP director Sharimah Salleh.
According to Soon, PPAPP recorded more than 1.5 million visitors from January to November this year.
“The number of visitors, this year, shows an increase as compared with the previous years.
“I hope that more people will visit the library and read more books. Parents play an important role in developing the reading habit among children,” he added.
Soon also encouraged more people to donate their unused books to the library so that more people could read them.
“We received book donations from 21 contributors, who donated 2,388 reading materials this year,” he said.
Sharimah said that more than 30 programmes have been prepared by PPAPP for the year end school holidays this year.
“The programmes, which started on Nov 26, will be available until Dec 29 this year,” she said.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal