The Role of Public Library in Thailand as the Learning Center for Rural
Communities
Narit Nimsomboon (nar@alpha.tu.ac.th, narit@slis.tsukuba.ac.jp)
Department of Library Science
Faculty of Liberal Arts
Thammasat University
THAILAND
Abstract

Thailand presently has a very large rural population of approximately
48.96 million (80% of the total population of 61.2 million). According to the 9th
National Foundation Education Development Plan of Thailand (2002 – 2006), to increase
the chance of learning access for all is one of the strategies to fulfill human resource
development. Public library system as the learning resource in rural communities has totune its role to support this policy. This presentation will introduce the Public Library
System in Thailand in terms of history, development, status, current tasks, future plan aswell as give discussion about the facing barriers of public library in Thailand in various
aspects.
History of Public Library in Thailand“ Public library ” was developed from the “public reading room” , which
was firstly established in Bangkok in 1916 by the Education Department, in which thefirst three “public reading room” were organized to make use of existing facilities of thefollowing schools : Wat Sutat Thepwararham, Sam Chean and Prayoonrawongsawas,
Thonburi, in 1949. Ministry of Education had set up more public libraries to expand bothquantity and quality, as well as promulgated public library regulation. Its purpose was toinculcate reading and learning habits into people’s mind. Those libraries were alsoutilized for providing training and giving knowledge to people in terms of discussion,
conversation, and excursion. At that time there were 20 public libraries in various
provinces, after that it increased to 64 public libraries in 1950.
In 1952, the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Ministry ofInterior, had made the policy to expand public library to district level. The Ministry ofInterior provided the places in the community areas, while the Ministry of Education
supported the budget for construction. In the same year, the former public library
regulation was improved and repromulgated , in which the public libraries were classified
into 3 categories, namely provincial public library, district public library, and mobile
library to give services t people both inside and outside library by circulating the books topeoples in the rural areas.
In 1973, the public library was upgraded to an educational unit attached to
the Adult Education Division of General Education Department. It was operated to serve
the following functions :1. To provide nonformal education services to general people.
2. To promote people’s reading and learning habits
3. To provide people with up-to-date information and knowledge
4. To promote and give advice on knowledge to people, as well as
attitudes.

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5. To promote and disseminate culture and6. To promote and give advice to people on spending their spare time
usefully
In 1979, the Department of Non-Formal Education (NFE) was establishedand the public library was transferred to come under the supervision of the Provincial
NFE Center responsible to promote, support, and assist in public library’s administrationand personnel so that the public library could be carried out more actively and effectively
according to the public library regulation 1986 issued by the Non-Formal Education
Department.
Later on, the Department of Non-Formal Education(NFE) public library
regulation 1992 to make public library be community information centre for promotion ofcommunity learning and activities, as well as for development of community learning
network.
Public Libraries can be classified into 3 sizes and the followings:
1. Large-size public library
1.1 Provincial public library was firstly established in 1939 in Ubon
Ratchathani, giving services to the people within the provincial areas. It also acted as thecentre for circulating the books and materials within the province. Later on in 1949, thegovernment had policy to expand adult education more widely and suitably to thecondition. Currently, there are 73 provincial public libraries, which are classified in thelarge size. Provincial library will be set up in the municipality, which is under the
responsibility of Provincial Non-Formal Education (NFE) Centre. Besides providing
various to give service on text books and materials according to the NFE curricula, as
well as providing Sukothaithammathirat Open University and Ramkamhaeng University
corners.
1.2 Rajamangalapisek Library, Klai Kangwon Palace, Prachuap Khiri
Khan is the only one organized particularly within the front areas of the Palace due to theRajamangalapisek Royal Ceremony of His Majesty the King.
2. Middle-size public library
Chalermrajagumari Public Library was established to serve Her RoyalHighness Princess Maha Jakri Sirindhorn’s resolution and ideas to promote people’s
education as she addressed in various occasions. In honour of Her Royal Highness
Princess Maha Jakri Sirindhorn and to celebrate Her Royal Highness’ 36th birthday in1991. Chalermrajakumari Public Library was established with the Princess’ permission,
the name of which was kindly bestowed by the Princess, as well.
Chalermrajagumari Public Library was set up in cooperation with local
people, government and private sectors. The library is 2 storey building and comprise ofvarious rooms such as the rooms of royal exhibition, for local information, foraudiovisual media and computer, as well as general exhibition upstairs. Downstairs, there
are the rooms for general libraries altogether joining in the project.
3. Small-size public libraryDistrict and sub-district public libraries are classified in this acting as the
network of provincial library to give services to people within the district areas in termsof informative and materials sources for their studies, as well as to disseminate culture.
The construction of most district libraries is partially supported by the community, who2helps to donate land, money and materials and by the government budgets, as well. Bang
Bor District Public Library, Samut Prakan was the first one established in 1943.
In 1952, the government had a resolution to establish a district library inevery district, the task of which the Ministry of Education was assigned to carry out inorder to promote learning and teaching of both formal and nonformal education. At
present, there are 73 provincial public libraries, 686 district public libraries, 79
Chalermrajagumari Public Libraries, and 50 sub-district public libraries.
Tasks of the Current Public Library
To develop the tasks of public library, in 1995 the NFE Department had
the policy to make all kinds of public library be learning centre giving services as thefollows :Learning Center

Informal Education

Non-formal Education

Local Information Center( Cited from : Kulthorn Lerdsuriyakul. “Public Library in Thailand ” in65th IFLA Council and General Conference Bangkok, Thailand August 20 – August
28,1999)
Informal education is providing the general public with educational
opportunities. They can learn through resource persons, working experience, society,surroundings, printed materials, radio, television, electronic media, and from othersources through their whole lives. In addition, the learners can transfer their grades
gained from informal education to formal nonformal education.
Informal education is an education system provided for supporting persons
to learn without particular system and planning. That is the learners can learn bythemselves from various kind of material and media, as well as from other source such as
from environment, experience, and local intelligence, which are real thing in their way oflife.
Nonformal education is providing nonformal education activities topersons who miss the opportunity to learn in schooling system with flexible methods andresponse to the needs of learners of each level in various models.
Local Information centre is the centre that collects various kinds of local
information in various form of giving services, for provision of learning and teachingactivities, for vocational development, as well as for exchange of information among
networks and for giving services to those interested. Local information centre in public

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library is the form of organizing system and disseminating necessary information useful
to both village level and provincial level. It puts the emphasis on the collecting
community information within the areas of the public library established.
Main Activities of Public Libraries
The Department of Non-Formal Education had policy for all types ofpublic libraries to provide and promote various activities to community as the followings:
1. Community Information Center
1) Promote reading and information searching such as provide reading
contest, story telling, speech contest, etc.
2) Promoting local intelligence such as collecting information,
provide exhibition, study tour related to local intelligence
3) Providing mobile library service to community
4) Promoting community to form interesting groups
5) Promoting good family relationship such as provide children andfamily corner, have activities in father day, mother day, etc
2. Community Learning Center
1) Giving advice related to non-formal education
2) Providing facilities for experimental service related to innovation
3) Providing space and facilities for non-formal education activities
3. Center for Community Activities
1) Providing space and facilities for seminar, product exhibition, local
product corner, etc.
2) Providing activities related to children and family such as promote
activities in children day, mother day and father day, etc.
3) Providing activities and space for multi purpose activities ofcommunity
4. Developing Learning Network in Community
1) Information and media providing such as promoting resource
sharing and routing in community
2) Producing, developing, distributing and training such as document
or media producing, providing training related to media producing
in order to disseminate information media to community network
efficiently
Public Librarians Standard
According to Thai public library standard set by Thai Library Association(TLA), the qualifications of public librarians are as the followings :1. Head Librarians into the government organizations (library) equal to
sub-division level or higher must have one of following
requirements:• Master degree in library science or information science and have atleast 5 year experience related to library performance.
• Bachelor degree in library science or information science and haveat least 10 year experience related library performance.

4•Bachelor degree in any field and have to pass the course training
related to science or information science and have at least 10 year
experience related to library performance.
2. Head Librarians into the government organizations (library) equal to
sub-division level must have bachelor degree in library science or information scienceand have at least 5 year experience related to library performance.
3. Head librarians must have one of the following qualifications:• Master degree in library science or information science• Bachelor degree in any field and have to pass the course training
related to library science or information science and have at least 3
year experience related to library performance.
Additional Roles of Public Librarians in Thailand
Because of the changing role of public libraries as mentioned above public
librarians in Thailand have to fine-tune their roles to be the supporters in studying,teaching activities, and information service providers inevitably. The additional roles ofthe librarians are cooperators and coordinators in order to provide information service
and activities related to study and teaching. Furthermore, public librarians have to survey
the needs of community in order to plan for good quality service.
Software Used in Public Library WorkThe Department of Non-Formal Education is responsible for creating thesoftware for public library works. The software, Public Library Service (PLS :Educational version), is distributed to public libraries and other types of libraries inThailand free of charge. Its capacities are as follows :• Storage of bibliographic information of books, other media, user
profile, as well as circulation information.
• Printing barcode sticker and library user card
• Providing password system and preparing statistical report• Providing backup system
Electronic Library Project to Celebrate the King Diamond Jubilee
Though more than 800 public Libraries were established, the services still
don’t efficiently serve the learning needs of users in such IT environment. The
Department of Non-Formal Education has set the policy to develop 75 provincial public
libraries to be electronic libraries in order to utilize modern technology information
system to support the quality of learning and teaching development according to NFE
curricula at all levels and types particularly on individual self-study and student-center
principle. The electronic library project was established to celebrate the King Diamond
Jubilee (1999) with the following objectives :• To develop provincial public libraries to be electronic libraries• To disseminate information related to the King’s Project in every
provinces via Internet• To provide electronic media for self learning.

5At present (2003), 10 provincial electronic libraries were launched theirservices and provide electronic media as well as internet service corner for their users.
Public library as the Distant Learning Center of Thaikom
As Thailand successfully launched the first satellite in 1993, the Ministryof Education had policy to extend education service to rural area and develop theequality of educational standard countrywide so the distant learning television programs
via Thaikom was settled. There are cooperation between the NFE Department andprivate sector to produce educational media and launched the program on August 12,
1994. The scope of service covers both formal and non-formal education but emphasize
the target groups in rural areas. The Public Library System has additional role to be thedistant learning center of Thaikom.
Research Conducting Related to Thai Public Library Works
There are only a few research projects related to public library works in
Thailand and most are master theses of graduate students whose major subject is Library
and Information science. To do content analysis of master theses abstracts during 19742001 (about 30 items) related to public library works, Aree Cheunwattana reported thatthe theme of the studies can be classified as the followings:
1. Performance of Public library. For examples, public library patterns,
activities, services, status & problems, and service &performance
evaluation.
2. User studies. For examples, information needs, activities by individualuser groups, factors affecting non- user and user groups, attitude
survey, problems of usage, reading interest.
3. Library worker studies. For examples, attitudes, satisfactions,
responsibilities, including continuing study
4. History and development of public libraries.
Most research projects (more than 90%) used survey questionnaire andinterview as tools for data collecting and only a few used more than one methods for datacollecting. The research results can be used within limited scope and cannot be applied
for public library system development. It maybe because public librarians misunderstoodthat research conducting is partially higher education studies and they are not qualified.
Consequently, there is not efficiently academic information to support public librarydevelopment.
Patterns of Library Service Delivery to Rural community and Problems
According to Aree Cheunwattana’s research project, the patterns oflibrary services to communities are differed by the 3 three systems of library services
distribution : the public library system, the university library extension program, and theformal school system.
• The public library system is within the Non-Formal
Education Department.
• The university library extension program is within the6Ministry of University Affairs, the Department of Library Science of a university in thenortheast provides the bookmobile services to rural children. There are 10 university
extension programs for service delivery.
• The formal school system is under the Office of the
National Primary Education Commission, this particular school has adopted the pattern ofa combined school and community library. There are at least 5 schools which follow thispattern.
In the part of public library system service delivery, the result show that
The public library system : rural public libraries are located in the district town centersand function mainly to support non-formal education. Learning Centers and village
reading centers serve to extend services to communities at the grassroots level. Whilelearning centers have demonstrated their potentials as an effective pattern of delivering
services to rural populations; village reading centers, despite their long existence, appear
to be in a state of decline. All service patterns under the public library system reflect alarge number of constraints in terms of organizational structure, funding, and humanresources and staff, certain factors have contributed to the ineffectiveness and slow
development of public service in rural area. These include low level of authority of public
libraries: a lack of good planning and management; a lack of adequate budgets andprofessionally trained personnel; and not enough appropriate library resources.
Facing Barriers of Public Libraries in Thailand
Although the history of Public Library System in Thailand had started
more than eighty years, it can not be successfully function as the learning resource forrural communities. According to document of the Department of non-formal education,“Relapse into illiteracy” that wastes foundation educational investment and brings about
unknowledgeable communities is caused by the lack of “Systematic information center”.
Rural people have slim chance to read and develop themselves after out of school. In
order to solve this problem, the Department of Non-Formal Education established public
libraries in rural areas in the pattern of “Public reading room” in 1951. Until now, public
library system status is not promoted to be important task of the NFE Department. It isonly a small task under Non-Formal Education Center and Provincial Non-Formal
Education Center. Because most center managers are educators and not trained in libraryand information science so they lack of understanding in library performance .Besides,
they don’t have the concept related to policy making, planning, budget, and personnel
allocation. Though, there is education officer center to give advice, it is located in
Bangkok so the public librarians who work in rural areas have only a little chance to meetthe experts.
The result of Aree Chuenwattana’s research project repeats theaforementioned problem as it reveals that the administrators assigned to plan andsupervise public libraries are usually educators and not trained in library and information
science. Despite their commitment and enthusiasm, they lack a professional
understanding of planning and management of library systems and services. They equate“literacy promotion” to “ library promotion ” and thus concentrate efforts and resources
on non-formal education activities. Librarians and other library staff feel that they are notappropriately assigned to work according to their professional training. With low status,

7dim career prospects, and low morale, they feel overwhelmed by too many
responsibilities. However, they work with a commitment to the communities and express
their needs for more training programs that will help update their knowledge and skills.
There are also controversial opinions related to the low use or low demand for libraryservice between service providers and community. While the service providers indicatedthat it caused by the lack of information awareness and lack of good reading habits of therural population, but, from the community perspectives, low use and no use are caused byinadequate access to libraries services, unavailability of appropriate reading materials,
preference of other media, particularly television, and lack of time because people arestruggling for their economic survival.
The facing barriers of public libraries in Thailand can be concluded as thefollowing aspects :Public library status: The legal status of public libraries is still
problematic that cause slow and inefficient development. The former research result
revealed that only once a year, public librarians have to send the report related to libraryperformance to the NFE Department. The department had policy to make the public
libraries as the learning centers and information centers which give useful information topeople at all educational levels. The libraries have to provide activities that promotereading behavior and essential academic skill but in real situation, the lack of legal status
as mentioned above is still serious problem because the librarians don’t have chance to bepromoted as well as lack of morale.
Personnel problem: At present, most public librarians in rural area are
not professional librarians though their titles are called “Librarian”. Actually, they areother government officials who normally are not interested in library works. In somesmall libraries, the librarians have to function as librarians, clerks and sometimes janitors.
Whenever they have chance to move themselves to better positions, they don’t hesitate to
do so. Even the Department of Non-Formal Education(NFE) public library regulation
1992, the qualifications of public librarians are not specified. The lack of chance to bepromoted is also another problem and the status of public librarians is not so importantwhen compare with other academic officials’ so public library managers are often turned.
According to public library standard , the middle size libraries should have 1 librarian, 3
non professional staff, 1 typing staff, 1 janitor, and 1 guard but at the beginning there
are only 3 positions available, 1 librarian, 1 non professional staff and 1 janitor. Becauseof lacking of human power, public libraries cannot produce good works and activities tofulfill the ultimate goals as a learning centre in rural areas. The latest research result
reveals that this problems is still going on without being solved until now. Besides, thepublic library task is not considered to be the main task of the department.
The lack of reading culture among Thai people maybe wastes the valueof public library as learning center. The statistics related to the low production of printed
material maybe affect the development of all kinds of library development. The lack of
behavior to search for information is still remaining in the society. Anyway, people indeveloping country, especially in the rural areas, still don’t have good quality of lives.
They are still struggling for their economic survival as Aree’s mentioned.

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Conclusion and Recommendations
The problems of public library are still going on if the aforementioned
barriers are not alleviated. According to Aree’s findings, while she found appropriate
policy directive exist, the level of success in implement those policies seems to depend
on a combination of various factors. In addition to favorable factors relating toorganization structure and resources, serious consideration of local concerns and structure
contribute to successful implementation. For example, in public library case, mostpolicies have not been successfully implemented due to an organizational framework
which deemphasizes library activities in favor of educational activities, an administrative
structure which is highly bureaucratic, and a lack of resources. Nonetheless, successcould be seen when policy directives are conducive to local involvement (such as
mobilization of local resources and institutional cooperation), and when theimplementation of policies take into consideration local concerns and structures as
exemplified by some learning centers and village reading centers. She also suggested theway to maintain community enthusiasm, interest, and involvement in the library project.
Community empowerment is therefore recommended. This strategy includes: leadershiptraining on topics such as participative planning and decision making as well as collective
actions; active mobilization of community participation in library activities; and creatinga support system for local initiative and actions. In addition, other usefulrecommendations include the reformulation of the national information policies that
focus more on social needs, organizational capacity building through education andtraining , provision of appropriate information, application of appropriate information
technology, designing innovative approaches in library and information service delivery,raising awareness of the important role of library and information services in the processof rural development, and systematic evaluation of rural library and information services.
From the author’s point of view, the understanding of rural communities in various
aspects is essential for public librarians. Public librarians have to have proactive role toprovide appropriate library services to communities. In rural communities where people
still trouble with many conditions, library services are not so important as public healthservices or public utility services. Librarians should have “knowledge” about their own
communities both sociological and psychological aspects. To cooperate closely withother government authorities in the same community is recommended. For example, theauthorities of the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Interior work very closely
to rural population so librarians should disseminate essential information via this channel
According to the research result from the information providers’ perspective, there aremany kinds of information that rural populations are not aware of , such as healtheducation, drug prevention, sex education, parenting information, and environmental
conservation.
The status of public library system as the learning center in ruralcommunity is the new role and it is good chance for public librarians to work in such achallenge context. Public librarians should have more cooperation with communities tofind their real needs. In Thai rural society ,the personal relationship is still important andpeople are still friendly and optimist. Public librarians should take this good point to be achance to promote library services to grassroots level.

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Sample List of Master Theses related to Public Library in Thailand
Ampa Jullamon. Information Services on Environmental Conservation of Public
Library, Non-Formal Education Department, Changwat Nakorn si
Thammarat Master of Science ( Environmental Science). Interdisciplinary
Graduate Program( Environmental Science) Kasetsart University.
Bangkok(Thailand) : Graduate School, 1992.
Boonchuay Tamthai. Preferred Reading of Selected Groups and Relative Popularityof Public Library Materials in Education Region 1 Master of Education(Foundations of Education) Silpakorn University. Nakhon Pathom (Thailand) :Graduate School, 1979.
Chalermchai Kemchai. Development of Public Library System in Thailand during
1916 – 1989 . Master of Education ( Library Science ) Srinakharinwirot
University, Prasarnmit . Bangkok (Thailand) :Graduate School, 1991.
Kaesorn Palawan. A Public Library Service Management Models Supporting NonFormal Education Activities : A Case Study of The Public Library ofAmphoe Khuan Don, Changwat Satun Master of Arts (Library and Information
Science) Prince of Songkla University. Songkla (Thailand) : Graduate School,
1997.
Kusuma Rattanakul. Factors Affecting the Non-use of the Chalermratchakumaree
Public Library in Changwat Pattani. Master of Arts (Library and Information
Science) Prince of Songkla University.Songkla(Thailand) : Graduate School,
1997.
Mongkhon Thepkamneod. Public Library Services as Perceived by Their Members toCentral Region of Thailand Master of Education ( Adult Education)
Srinakharinwirot University, Prasarnmit . Bangkok (Thailand) : Graduate School,
1995.
Nongluk Burapornnusorn. Educational Needs for Work Improvement of Local
Librarians Under the Department of Nonformal Education Master. Education(Adult Education) Srinakharinwirot University, Prasarnmit, Bangkok(Thailand) :Graduate School, 1997.
Phethai Naksuk Library Public Relations for The Students of Distance Learning
Methods at The Lower Secondary Level Master of Arts (Library andInformation Science) Ramkhamhaeng University. Bangkok (Thailand). Graduate
School., 1998
Praphasilp Pongpeaw. Problems and User Needs about Library Service from Public
Libraries as Perceived by Remote Learning Students in Secondary school
under Nonformal Education Center , Pracheanburi . Master of Education( Adult Education) Srinakharinwirot University, Prasarnmit . Bangkok(Thailand) : Graduate School, 1991.
Siree Hoonjalearn. Study of District Public Library Management in Central Region
Master in Education ( Adult and Continuing Education) Silpakorn University.
Nakhon Pathom (Thailand) : Graduate School, 1979.
Sugunya yaowachirapong. A Study of Public Librarian Characteristics under the
New Policy of Non-formal Education Department, Ministry of Education11

Master in Education (Non-Formal Education) Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok (Thailand) : Graduate School, 1997.
Surang Nuntakawonges. A Study of Opinions of Public Library Librarians andAdmistrators and Public Library expert Concerning the Causes of Provincial.
Public Library Administration Problems Master of Arts (Library andInformation Science) Srinakharinwirot University, Prasarnmit . Bangkok(Thailand) : Graduate School, 1994.
Vilailuck Rojanasrirat. Factors Affect Public Library Performance which are Under
responsibility of Non-Formal Education Department : Compare theAttitudes between Public librarians and Department Managers Master ofLiberal Arts (Library and Information Science) Thammasat University. Bangkok(Thailand) : Graduate School, 1993.
Wipawee Ponganon. The Evaluation of “ Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn Public
Library Project” Master in Education ( Adult and Continuing Education)
Silpakorn University. Nakhon Pathom (Thailand) : Graduate School, 1996.
Yukonthorn Thumma The Reception and Dissemination of Information on the
Distant Education Project by Public Librarians Master of Arts (Library andInformation Science) Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok (Thailand) : Graduate
School., 1999.

(From : Technical Information Access Center (TIAC). Thai Theses Online available
via http://thesis.tiac.or.th/, 24/01/2003)

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