FOLLOWING the success of the two digital libraries in Jalan Masjid Negeri, the third one, known as Penang Digital Library @ Batu Maung (PDL@Batu Maung), was launched at Southbay Plaza in Batu Maung today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state Domestic and International Trade, Entrepreneur Development and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain both officially opened the 3,800sq ft library that they believed would serve well the residents of Batu Maung and neighbouring areas in the southwest district.
Equipped with public WiFi connection, laptops and tablets as well as a few smart televisions for displaying e-books and other relevant information for knowledge sharing, it is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
Chow also revealed that another digital library, Penang Digital Library @ Butterworth, was being set up at a former hawker centre at Dewan Ria in Kampong Benggali, Butterworth.
“We need to embrace the digital age.
“I had emphasised no less than five times, even about 10 times, in the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday on how important the digital age is for the development of Penang and Malaysia as we are able to do things differently and more efficiently compared to yesteryear.
“With technology, everything seems to be possible. With the collaboration of the industry players and community, I believe we can transform our state by embracing digital technology.
“We are working hard to ensure that Penang continues to surge forward with the tech era. At the moment, you can see there are many conferences about technology, innovation, creativity and so on.”
Chow also thanked the industry players for collaborating with the state government and also the federal and state agencies for giving their support.
Also present were southwest district officer Mohd Hafiz Aswad Nadzri, Chief Minister Incorporated deputy general manager S. Bharathi, Penang Science Cluster director Datuk Yoon Chon Leong, Mah Sing Group chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang, Mah Sing chief operating officer Everlyn Khaw, Intel vice-president Lynn Olson, Inari of Technology chief executive officer K.C. Lau, Telekom Malaysia Penang general manager Kevin Lee, SNS Nework Company’s Ko Yun Hung and Southbay Plaza Committee chairman Ngoo Seong Boon.
Chow said the inspiration to establish the first Penang Digital Library in Jalan Masjid Negeri came after his predecessor Lim Guan Eng visited Keysight Technologies, which was instrumental in setting up the library by contributing the software and equipment, in October 2016.
In May 2017, the library began to operate 24 hours daily to allow round-the-clock access for free learning space.
After that, the state government, through CMI, transformed an old bungalow beside the Penang Digital Library in 2018 to the present Penang Digital Library 2.
“I don’t think that there is a 24-hour library elsewhere in Malaysia. I believe a digital library is being set up in Alor Setar.
“I hope the PDL@Batu Maung can be sustainable. It’s a social programme, not much revenue can be earned but this is a good initiative for the children,” Chow added.
Abdul Halim said PDL@Batu Maung was one of the initiatives of the state government to transform Batu Maung under the second phase of the Batu Maung 4Ts (Tourism, Technology, Transportation and Tranquility) plan.
He said it was a continuation from the previous success of the first STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) programme launched in December 2018 at Trends Southbay.
“The future lies in the hands of the young. We want to them to quickly embrace this new technology. We want to build and develop talents for the future,” Abdul Halim, who is also the Batu Maung assemblyman, said in his speech.
Elaborating on the 4Ts, Abdul Halim said Batu Maung, which is traversed by about 28,000 road users daily, has tourist attractions such as Penang War Museum, Sam Poh Tong, aquarium and fishing village.
According to Bharathi, the setting up of PDL@Batu Maung was supported by five sponsors – Mah Sing, Intel, Inari, SNS and Telekom Malaysia.
“Mah Sing has agreed to allow us free rental at Southbay Plaza for the whole of next year. We (CMI) need to come out with an operational cost of about RM30,000 per month,” she said.
“Our Penang digital libraries currently have a total of 4,000 e-books in our data. We will get 20,000 more from the National Library next year.”
On the digital library in Butterworth, she said it was 85% completed and hoped that the 20,000sq ft facility could be launched in January next year.
As one of the main sponsors, Mah Sing’s Ho said they leveraged on their expertise as an experienced property developer for the digital library’s renovation works, which included interior designing provisions as well as supply of furniture.
“We are extremely honoured to be part of this initiative. The opening of the digital library marks another exciting moment for Penang, ushering us into a future whereby we can make a library as an attractive place for youths and adults to acquire and share knowledge,” Ho said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Nur Afiqah Zainudi
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud