Bangkok Library Digital library and information center for Bangkok, Thailand

Soi Phranang Discovery Learning Library (Thai: ห้องสมุดซอยพระนาง) is a public lending and reference library located close to Victory Monument in Bangkok. The modern library is well stocked with mostly Thai books and periodicals limiting its usefulness for most foreign visitors, but it does carry the Bangkok Post.

The library has an excellent children's room with a good selection of books in Thai and English. There are also many books and multimedia resources (CD, VCD, and DVD) for Thai students that may be suitable for intermediate and advanced learners of Thai as a foreign language.

Anyone can use the library, including foreign visitors. The children's room is limited to under-eights and their parents only. Membership is required to borrow books and use the library computers to browse the Internet.

Membership

Requirements (Thai nationality)

สำเนาบัตรประจำตัวประชาชน หรือบัตรข้าราชการ หรือบัตรประจำตัวนักศึกษา

สำเนาทะเบียนบ้านที่่มีการรับรองอย่างถูกต้อง

Requirements (other nationalities)

Foreign visitors who wish to join the library must bring their passport. When we last visited the library (May 1, 2009) we were told that proof of address for foreigners was not required. If you do have some proof of address, it may be a good idea to take it with you, just in case this policy changes.

Fees

Membership fee: 10 baht per year (5 baht for children aged 15 and under)
Deposit: 40 baht (20 baht for children aged 15 and under)

The deposit is returnable at the end of membership.

Opening times

Tuesday to Saturday 08.30 - 20.00

Sundays and holidays 09.00 - 17.00

Closed every Monday

Contact details

Website: http://www.bangkok.go.th/dll

Tel: +66(0)2245 471, +66(0)2246 0286

Fax: +66(0)2246 0286

Address and map

Soi Phranang Discovery Learning Library
Ratchawithi Soi 4
Ratchathewi district
Bangkok

Getting there

Take the BTS skytrain to Victory Monument station and then follow the elevated walkway to Ratchawithi Road. Alternatively, go along Rang Nam Road (รางน้ำ) and then cut through Suan Santi Phap public park.

Acknowledgments

We'd like to thank the library staff for their assistance in answering questions and granting special permission to take photos in the library when we visited on May 1, 2009.