KUCHING: New and upgraded facilities are now prepared for visitors to the Sarawak State Library.

The library now features a new e-Newspaper kiosk where visitors can
read news and magazines from all over the world in the library archive.
The kiosks hold a 32-inch display with touch sensor for easy content
browsing.

A digital signage via a 50-inch digital display will allow visitors
to locate and know about events that will be held at the state library.
Users can also interact with it using motion sensors to select specific
information.

Due to high demand of Internet access point, the bandwidth speed has
been upgraded to Unifi service with speed of up to 100Mbps. The service
can now be used.

Besides books and other reading materials, visitors can enjoy local
art collections at the library. The Sarawakiana Portal is an online art
collection with summarised write-up and contents on Sarawakian
materials, especially visual arts.

The most exciting upgrades are located at the Children Infotheque
area. These services aim to expose children to interesting and
interactive computer technology. Children will now be able to use
various “edutainment” applications on 10 Lenovo tablets instead of
computers.

The XBOX360, using motion sensing, fuses games and education to make
learning even more fun. Video screening at the Storytelling room will
show entertaining and educating videos from the Lincoln Corner
collections to children so that they are interested in computer
graphics.

Children activities such as storytelling, coloring, reading, crafting
and others will be held twice a month and in Miri, every weekend to
enhance the children’s learning experience.

The library will be publishing three new books namely Flora and Fauna
of Pustaka, Unravelling of private libraries in Sarawakians and
Fountain of Knwoledge: Information ripple, knowledge waves and Wisdom
tsunami.

Parents and children should take the chance to visit the soon-to-be
launched Sensory Garden. The garden consists of two types of plants
which can be recognised by touch and smell. It will let visitors to
stimulate their senses while experiencing the joy of nature.

This special garden is disabled-friendly, with Braille information
boards being installed for the convenience of the disabled and visually
impaired people. It also shows instructions for them to walk around
without any aid.

The library has recently celebrated its 15th anniversary since it’s
opening in the year 2000. Many fun and interesting events have been
planned by the state library for the people next year such as the
Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival, Knowledge 2015: Knowledge, The
Key to A Better Tomorrow, talks, exhibitions, workshops and
conferences.

Visit pustaka-sarawak.com or email to librarian@sarawak.gov.my for details.