INTRODUCTION

In view of the need to equip Petaling Jaya town with a library, Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya reached an agreement on 28 February to establish the Petaling Jaya Book Club.

PETALING JAYA BOOK CLUB

The KPBJ Protem committee was appointed by MPPJ. Mr. Soong Siew Hoong (now Tan Sri) who was a MPPJ's Council Member at that time headed this committee. Efforts to establish a library become a reality when the Petaling Jaya Book Club was officially registered under the Association Act 1966 on 13 October1987. Initially, the Council agreed to locate the library on the 2nd Floor, Menara MPPJ that is located in Petaling Jaya town.

The initial objective of its establishment was to provide reading facilities and book loan services besides inculcating reading habits among, particularly the Petaling Jaya residents, and Klang Valley residents generally.

MPPJ LIBRARY

Given the important role a library plays, on 1 April 1993, MPPJ officially took over the Petaling Jaya Book Club. It was later renamed as MPPJ Library. This take-over reflects MPPJ's commitment with regards to the development of knowledge in line with the current physical development of Petaling Jaya.

The library, which was situated at MENARA MPPJ, was felt to be too crammed to cater for the registered members totalling 25 000. The total volume of book collection and other materials kept increasing each year.

LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT

The Council felt the necessity of having a special library building. By mid 1995, a unanimous decision was reached by the council which was chaired by the YDP, Encik Mohamed Nor bin Bador (now Dato') to build a 4 storey building at Jalan Selangor, Petaling Jaya.In December 1995, a multi purpose building located at Jalan Selangor had to make way for the 4 storey library building, costing RM12.0 million. The consultant architect for this project was Kamal Ismail Associate. Other consultants involved were CMP Sdn Bhd and CKP Nizaruddin Jurukur Bahan Sdn Bhd. The main contractor was ZAQ Construction Sdn Bhd. The Council enforcement unit was Puan Zurina Illadad Khan. This project took approximately 4 1/2 years. The delay was due to technical problems, which were unavoidable.

In December 1999, MPPJ Library moved to the new building at Jalan Selangor, Petaling Jaya. MPPJ Library now known as Petaling Jaya Community Library. On 3 April 2000, the Petaling Jaya Community Library is expected to begin its services to the Petaling Jaya and Klang Valley residents.

UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE BUILDING

Facilities for special group are taken into consideration. From the outside leading to the main entrance, access ramp is provided, meanwhile in the building itself, 2 lifts are available users' use. The building's environment is decorated with landscape and beautiful rock gardens. The interior decorations focuses on family comfort and individual recreational mind. Music corners on every level aims to provide alternatives to patrons who can enjoy reading whilst listening to music of their own choice.

In line with Selangor Government's 10 pillars, information technology was made MPPJ's main agenda. As a community library, the council believes in the sharing and development of information technology particularly with the Petaling Jaya community and Klang Valley residents generally.

Collections comprise monographs as well as other multimedia equipment facilities are provided for patrons. In this aspect, the council strives to meet the patron's different needs to the maximum level.