The Cost of Being a Reader in Malaysia

The cost of being a reader in Malaysia — Victoria Navina

Malay Mail – 10 July 2025

Photo from Medium 

JULY 10 — They say reading is free, but is it? In Malaysia, books are expensive, libraries are uneven, and access is shaped by income, infrastructure and class. The cost of being a reader isn’t just measured in ringgit. It’s measured in opportunity, inequality and culture.

How much does a book cost?

You walk into a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur and pick up an imported paperback on statistics — RM60. A historical narrative? RM115. If you’re earning Malaysia’s minimum wage of RM1,700, that’s nearly four to seven per cent of your monthly income. For one book. That’s your internet bill. Or a week’s worth of lunches. Books aren’t taxed in Malaysia, but they’re not cheap. Many are imported. That means you’re paying for printing, freight, import duties, logistics, distributor mark-ups and currency exchange. We don’t have a fixed book pricing law, so prices vary across retailers. Discounts are inconsistent, and bookstores may be operating on thin margins.

If you buy books, how likely are you to read?

Buying books can predict whether someone reads — according to a 2023 study by the National Library (PNM). Among those who bought books, 97.2 per cent are more likely to read. Among those who didn’t, only 17.6 per cent read. Put simply, access fuels reading. Without the ability to buy or borrow, many might simply stop.

The US Library of Congress is under attack

 

William Henry Jackson/Wikimedia Commons

Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C., circa 1902.

Read article in Financial Times

Jangan 'Korbankan' Buku Pada Waktu Sukar

 

Sumber: Berita Harian 

Dreamland for Book Lovers

 

Pic: El Ateneo Grand Splendid

Preply’s 10 most popular bookstores (and libraries) worldwide:

1.       Daunt Books in London, England

2.       El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Bueno Aires, Argentina

3.       State Library Victoria in Melbourne, Australia

4.       Bookstore Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands

5.       The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, United States

6.       Starfield Library in Seoul, South Korea

7.       Shakespeare & Company in Paris, France

8.       Tsutaya Books in Tokyo, Japan

9.       Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland

10.   Liberia Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy

Source: The Star (3 May 2025)

Plan to Promote Libraries

Plan to promote Libraries

The Sun – 11 April 2025

Plan to promote libraries

 

To boost reading appeal, association advocates inclusion of facilities at housing and mall developments

Ghazali said access to libraries is not an issue, as there are 13,000 in the country. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/ THESUN

PETALING JAYA: When thousands of Malaysians lined up outside BookXcess stores for a recent three-day book giveaway, some observers were left stunned.

Others saw it asconfirmation of what they have always believed: Malaysians do read, but are books here too expensive and inaccessible?

Librarians Association of Malaysia president Dr Ghazali Mohamed Fadzil said the sight of people queueing from 8am for free books was not surprising. Instead, it underscored an ongoing reality.

Bringing readers together

Bringing readers together

The Star 18 March 2025, pg. 3 (Lifestyle)

"It requires nothing but just reading in a park, but with this simple act, you're promoting reading and advocating for green public spaces. A space purely for the pleasure of being outdoors in a green environment with a book and each other. What could be better?"

#Reading #MalaysiaMembaca

Public Libraries Now Modern Knowledge Hubs

Public libraries now modern knowledge hubs

The Sun 10 Feb 2025, pg. 4

"The public believe that libraries are obsolete but they have not seen how far we have come. They need to break the stigma and visit libraries so that we can continue to evolve"

"Public must move past their perception that libraries are "old school" and irrelevant in the digital age as libraries have continously evolved with technology to meet the current needs of users"

Warga Maghribi Membaca 4000 Buku

Foto ihsan Penny and Crew

Foto ihsan X

Reading A Book

 

Sumber: FB We Are Bookish 

Perpustakaan Komuniti @Aeon Taiping

Semasa balik ke Taiping, sempat berkunjung ke Aeon Taiping dan ternampak ada nama 'Perpustakaan Komuniti' dalam senarai kedai yang ada. Apa lagi, cepat-cepat terus cari di manakah lokasinya. Yang seronoknya, pergi dua hari berturut-turut pada 23 dan 24 Dis 2024. 

Tahniah diucapkan kepada Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Perak kerana mewujudkan sebuah perpustakaan di pusat membeli-belah. Ianya menjadi tempat pengunjung beristirahah sambil membaca buku dan mencari maklumat. Terdapat juga ibu-bapa yang membawa anak-anak ke sini untuk aktiviti yang sihat. 

DR Congo strives to reconcile young people with books

 DR Congo strives to reconcile young people with books

The Star - 10 Dec 2024

Photo: AFP

The printer in the corner of Martin Lukongo's print shop in Goma, a city in DR Congo's troubled east, vibrates as it churns out an order for 400 copies of a book. For more than 30 years, this part of the vast central African country has been known for the conflict that now surrounds the city, rather than for any literary output. Some consider reading a luxury, even a futile activity, especially in a nation ranked as one of the world's poorest. But a collective of artists and activists has set out to encourage young people to develop a love of books by overcoming the hurdles to produce them locally.

"Writers prefer to print in Europe, as they think they can't obtain this quality here," Lukongo said. A photographer by trade, he manages to overcome power cuts and a shortage of high-quality paper by obtaining it from neighbouring countries to print around 60 copies - including books, novels and essays - a day.

A Different Kind of Bookshop

 

Sumber: The Star 

Di Jepun, penerbit atau penulis buku boleh menyewa rak buku di kedai buku bagi mempamer dan menjual buku sendiri.

The Star 5 Nov 2024, ms. 6 (Lifestyle)

#books #biblio

Bridging Gaps in Understanding with Books

Bridging gaps in understanding with books

The Star 30 July 2024, pg. 16

"Books are 'downloads' of human thoughts and aspirations, and can be passed on meaningfully to the next generation"

#Books #Read

Libraries as a Crime Fighter

Libraries as a crime fighter

The Star 15/7/2024 pg. 12

"Libraries and museums should be used as community spaces that can help bring down the crime rate by giving youths space for healthy activities"

#Libraries

Partners in strengthening reading habits

Source: The Star

Partners in strengthening reading habits

The Star 23/4/2024 pg. 16

"The Swedish Embassy in Malaysia, through our exhibition "Jom Kita Bincang", has been working on the potential of children's literature to spark conversation and effect changes on sustainability, health and social rights"

#JomKitaBincang

#JomBaca

Mini Library at a Park

 

Foto ihsan TikTok/@zestie.my

Retired M’sian Headmaster Transforms Personal Book Collection Into Mini Library At A Park

A real legacy 

WeirdKaya – 5 April 2024

Libraries are like treasure troves of knowledge, inviting readers on journeys of discovery. They’re not just places for stories; they’re hubs where communities come together, sharing ideas and fostering growth.

In the heart of Taman Wawasan, Puchong, there’s a small but mighty library run by Uncle Lee, a retired headmaster. What makes it special isn’t just its 10,000 books or its cozy spot in a public playground. It’s the story behind it all—a story of Uncle Lee’s love for books and his desire to share that love with others.

Meet Uncle Lee, an 89-year-old who’s loved books for as long as he can remember. Since the 1950s, he’s been collecting them, filling his home with literary treasures.

But instead of keeping them all to himself, Uncle Lee had a brilliant idea: “Why not share them with the public?” With excitement and kindness, he turned his private collection into a library for everyone to enjoy.

In a heartwarming TikTok video shared by Zestie Malaysia, Uncle Lee recounts his journey, from the early days of collecting books to the joy of seeing families flock to his mini library in search of their next literary adventure.

Lose Yourself in Books

Lose yourself in books

By Rajen Devadason

NST 25 March 2024, pg. 23

"Knowledge is power, and libraries are the fortresses where that power is stored"

"The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries"

#libraries #Books

So many books, so little time

Betulkah kita tiada masa untuk membacha buku?

"A recent study determined that an individual who took up reading at the age of seven, and who has a life expectancy within the norm, could read 770 books over the course of their life"

Sumber: The Star 23 Jan 2024, pg. 5 (Lifestyle)

#read #baca

How books give opportunity

How books give opportunity

The Star 5 Dec 2023 pg. 5 (Lifestyle)

"Books are about giving the opportunity to dream and to think about a career, about how to be a better citizen of this world" - Abdullahi Mire

Bina Perpustakaan

 

Mari wujudkan perpustakaan di rumah masing-masing. Bermula dengan jumlah bahan bacaan yang sedikit dan hanya 1 rak kecil, namun, ianya merupakan satu permulaan yang bijak untuk ahli keluarga kita. Natijahnya, pasti akan ada minat membaca di kalangan ahli keluarga 😎