New Phuket school library opens

PHUKET: Baan Tungkha School in Rassada has opened a library on its grounds for students and locals alike.

Vice Governor Weerawat Janpen presided over the opening ceremony of the 600,000-baht facility, one of the few of its kind on the island.

School director Wilas Parinyaniyom explained, “Our school committee wanted to gather secondhand books and computers and make them available to students and local residents, so we decided to make use of free space on the ground floor of the school building by turning it into a library.

“With donations and help from the public and government authorities, construction began in late September last year and finished last month, on target with the 600,000-baht budget.”

Mr Wilas noted that they are in search of a full-time librarian and that for the time being, the library hours will be limited to “lunch time”, between midday and 1pm.

“For now, our teachers will have to take turns working in the library during the lunch period because we don’t have a librarian to take care of the library all day. We hope that Rassada Municipality can provide a budget to hire a librarian for us.

“Once we have a librarian, we can open the library in the morning and close around 4 or 5pm from Monday to Friday,” he said.

Supapan Kranchanawiwin, a teacher at Baan Tungkha School and responsible for maintaining the library, said that about 2,000 books were donated by The Books Phuket and another 3,000 secondhand books were donated by the public.

There are also two computers available with internet connection and another 10 used computers were donated but are awaiting upgrades, Mr Wilas said.

The computers will allow students to learn internet searching and other computer skills, he said.

“We are still accepting donations of any types of books and magazines suitable for children to read. However, we may not accept any more donations of school books as we already have a lot,” Ms Supapan added.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the library may contact Baan Tungkha school at 076-254269. The school is located at 41 Moo 5, Pracha Uthit Road, T. Rassada, A. Muang, Phuket 83000.

— Janpen Upatising