CML VISITS PEKAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
PEKAN, 22 January 2025 - The Centre for Modern Languages (CML) as a language centre celebrates students and surrounding communities. This is proven as three language instructors include Arulselvi, Alia Najaa, and Wan Noor Farah set out on a monumental visit to the Pekan Public Library.
The trios were greeted by Norkamila binti Mahmud, Head of Pekan Public Library accompanied by the friendly staff members there. The primary purpose of the visit was to discuss a potential collaboration between the Centre for Modern Languages and the Pekan Public Library as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
According to Norkamila, the library frequently organizes events for school children, particularly during school holidays. Recently, they hosted a storytelling competition in Malay, which engaged primary school students from the Pekan area. Moving forward, the instructors are eager to introduce initiatives that provide greater exposure to the English language for students in Pekan.
During the visit, Norkamila provided a guided tour of the library, highlighting the facilities housed within the double-storey building. The ground floor boasts a versatile mini hall, perfect for hosting fun activities and programs, while the first floor features an inviting open area equipped with comfortable seating and tables, offering an ideal space for casual reading and study sessions.
As you walk into the first floor, you’re greeted by soft lighting that gently illuminates the rows of bookshelves, filled with a mix of novels, reference materials, and children’s books. The warm, earthy tones of the wood and the comfortable seating areas create a welcoming atmosphere, inviting you to relax and unwind. There are some spaces with armchairs or tables where you can curl up with a book or quietly study.
The space is often quiet, except for the occasional soft rustling of pages or the gentle hum of the library’s computer stations. Also at the same level, Isuzu's small but fascinating engine car exhibition adds an exciting twist to the usual peaceful atmosphere. The display, although small and simple, managed to showcase Isuzu's innovative engine model which contributes to the uniqueness of the Pekan Library.
The Pekan Public Library has a vibrant energy of young children, curling up on the sofa, quietly peeking at the trios. The sight of children and adults checking out books from the library shows how much the library is not only a home to printed archives but also a community centre to school-going children and adults.
Norkamila mentioned that this visit does not only provide opportunities to discuss possible future collaborations between the library and CML, but also sharing different perspectives from the two institutions. By pooling resources and expertise, both institutions aim to foster a stronger culture of learning and engagement within the local community.
The meeting concluded with a warm invitation for the library officers to visit CML in the future or take part in upcoming programs. The instructors are grateful for the hospitality and kindness shown by the Pekan Public Library for showing the library around. They are hoping to organise more learning activities and workshops at the library for local community engagement.
Prepared by: Wan Noor Farah Wan Shamsuddin, Arulselvi Uthayakumaran & Alia Najaa Md Nor