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 childrens 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 its 
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 Childrens 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.

