National Library of Thailand

The National Library of Thailand ( Thai: หอสมุดแห่งชาติ, pronunciation: hɔ ː ʰ â ː t sà.mùt.hɛŋ.tɕ. ) Is the National Library of Thailand in Bangkok. The competent governmental authority in the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture.

History

By the end of the 19th century concept of a library, which is a repository of books was new to the Siamese kingdom. There were both in the Royal Palace and in royal temples ( Wat ) collections of manuscripts, as well as collections of books, which were kept in other temples of the kingdom of so-called Hor Trai. These collections were, however, only of certain works of a religious nature consisting of palm-leaf manuscripts ( เครื่อง สาน ใบ ลาน - Krueang San Bai Lan ) passed or from so-called Samut Khoi - Mauskripten - สมุด ข่อย " books " of paper from the Khoi - plant ( Streblus asper ) is produced.

Through increased contacts of the royal family with the West, the need came to the " optimization and propagation " ( improvement and increase enlarge ) on knowledge. Thus, the first library in Thailand was first established as a kind of club for the Thai aristocracy in the early 1880s. It was Vajirañāna library ( หอ พระ สมุด วชิร ญาณ - Ho Phra Samut Wachirayan ) called; under this name Prince Mongkut was ordained as a monk before he became king.

On the occasion of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of King Mongkut decreed his son King Chulalongkorn on 12 October 1905 that the three royal hitherto existing collections of Vajirayana, the Mandira Dhamma ( หอ พระ มณเฑียร ธรรม - Ho Phra Tham Monthian ) and the Buddhasasana Sangaha library ( หอ พุทธ สาสน สังคหะ - Ho Phuttha Satsana Sangkhaha ) together and as a library for the capital ( หอสมุด สำหรับ พระนคร - Ho Phra Nakhon Samut Samrab ) are making on the ground floor of the Chakri Maha Prasat Thonhalle of the Grand Palace in Bangkok to the public. At the same time was appointed chief librarian of the German linguist and Pali expert Oskar Frankfurt.

The " Mandira Dhamma Collection" was initiated in 1793 by King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulaloke ( Rama I ), it contained the first royal edition of the Pali canon ( Tipitaka ) after the founding of Siam. Later, other editions, such as the Mon and one Sinhala to come. The Buddhasasana - Sangaha Collection was launched in the year 1900 by Chulalongkorn himself into life, the books would gather centrally about Buddhism. It contained various books in Khom script ( an ancient Khmer alphabet), Buddhist commentaries, grammars of the Pali language, Jatakas in various verse forms, Buddhist treatises in Lao, Mon, Sinhalese, Japanese, Sanskrit and in Latin script as well as stone inscriptions with reference to Buddhism.

Later the library for the capital in the " harmony - building " ( ศาลา ส หทัย สมาคม - Sala Sahathai Samakhom ) moved the Grand Palace and in 1916 at the instigation of King Vajiravudh in the so-called Thawon - Watthu building ( ตึก ถาวรวัตถุ ) at Sanam Luang. The Chairman was appointed Prince Damrong Rajanubhab.

Sala Sahathai Samakhom

Thawon - Watthu building at Sanam Luang

The Metropolitan Library was later called in English " Wachirayan National Library of Siam". With the end of absolute monarchy, on 3 May 1932, the name of the library in " National Library of Thailand " ( หอสมุดแห่งชาติ - Ho Samut Haeng Chat ) changed. In 1947, another building was erected behind the Thawon - Watthu - building that would house the estate of Prince Damrong. This consisted of a collection of rare books and personal objects of the Prince. This collection was called " Damrong Rajanubhab Library". It is now in the Varadis Palace, the former residence of Prince Damrong.

1962, the Thai government decided that the library needed a new building. For this, the land was at the Thanon Samsen ( Samsen Road), provided next to the Royal jetty Wasukri, take of the traditional from the barge processions began. The new building in Thai architectural style was officially opened on 5 May 1966. 2007 extension building was planned, which is located directly behind the existing library. Construction began in late 2008.

Upper librarians

Branches

Gradually, the following 17 branches were opened in various provinces:

  • In Central Thailand:
  • In northern Thailand:
  • In the Northeast Region:
  • In the Eastern Region:
  • In Southern Thailand:

Function

The National Library is to:

Stock

In April 2008, a the collections of the National Library with the following materials:

  • General Collection: 2,903,175 monographs
  • 0,067,163 Periodicals
  • 0,020,439 newspapers
  • 0150614 " rare books "
  • 0,389,294 manuscripts
  • 0,098,554 non -book materials
  • 0000487 Micro Movies
  • 027 inscriptions
  • 341 Thai traditional books ( Samut Khoi )
  • 049 palm leaf manuscripts
  • 708 " rare books "
  • 00 337 video tapes
  • 02 734 music cassettes, CDs, etc.
  • 23 879 music notes
  • 02 105 Photos
Ho trai Sinhala alphabet Jataka tales Sing Buri Province Kanchanaburi Province Suphan Buri Province Lamphun Province Chiang Mai Province Buriram Province Nakhon Phanom Province Chonburi Province Chanthaburi Province Phuket Province Songkhla Province
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