PUCHONG (ANN/THE STAR) – Nestled in a serene lakeside park, an 89-year-old man has devoted his life to fostering a love for reading in his community. Lee Kim Siew, a retired headmaster, has transformed the Taman Wawasan Recreational Park into a haven for book enthusiasts through his creation of five charming mini outdoor libraries.
Supported by a walking stick, Lee can be seen carefully tending to these whimsical book nooks, a labour of love he began five years ago.
Despite the challenges of age, he dedicates three hours of his time every Monday to Thursday to maintain and organise these literary sanctuaries.
The sight of this jovial and friendly octogenarian arranging, collecting, and stamping newly-donated books onto the shelves is a testament to his unwavering commitment.
Each of the five library stations is uniquely designed, with some featuring wooden bookshelves, while others are ingeniously constructed from Styrofoam boxes stacked vertically.
These mini libraries are strategically scattered across different locations within the park, inviting visitors to pause, pick up a book, and immerse themselves in a world of stories amidst nature’s beauty.
Lee’s dedication ensures that these literary treasures are well-maintained and accessible, providing a valuable resource for the community and inspiring a love of reading for generations to come.
Each shelf is thoughtfully covered with a plastic sheet or a protective shelf door to shield the books from the weather.
It is truly a book-lover’s paradise, offering a wide range of works from novels and comics to non-fiction, available in Chinese, English, and Malay.
Lee said the library stations boast a combined total of over 30,000 books, some from his own collection and others donated.
“My late wife and I used to have a home library with tens of thousands of books. Our house was filled with bookshelves that had nine compartments, and you needed a ladder to reach the books,” he recalled.
After his wife passed away, Lee found it difficult to maintain the home library on his own. Instead, in a generous gesture, he decided to share his collection by setting up a public library.
“Anyone can borrow the books – no registration, no limit – as long as you return them within five years! I believe there is nowhere else you can find a library as unique as this. Everyone can borrow up to 30 books per person,” he added.
The library is open to the public every day, inviting anyone to visit and borrow books. Each book is stamped with the words “Lee & Gan Library Kuala Lumpur,” with Gan being his wife’s surname.
“I put a stamp on the books so that people will return them after reading. If there is no stamp, then returning is optional,” said Lee, who has two sons.
Managing a library is familiar territory for Lee, who has spent over 20 years donating books to build better libraries.
“I helped a library in a secondary school in China by donating 6,000 books to them. I also donated books to four libraries in Thailand and to over 20 libraries in Malaysia,” he added.
Lee is well-versed in the library’s collection and wholeheartedly recommends some of his favourites, such as Outside the Window by Chiung Yao, The Legend of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong, and novels by Yi Shu.
An avid reader himself, he spends an hour each day immersed in books. When he was younger, he particularly enjoyed books about educational philosophy and methods.
“My library is becoming more popular, with more new visitors coming to borrow the books,” he said.
In addition to his role as librarian, Lee also maintains the park’s cleanliness by picking up litter. His mornings begin with collecting takeaway boxes and beer cans to be recycled.
One frequent visitor and long-time friend, Loo Ah Kaw, 76, admires Lee’s dedication.
“He also cleans the area and picks up trash that falls into the pond. When he was younger, he even cleared the drains with a hoe.
“Sometimes, we help him out too. He is very hardworking, but now, as he ages, he is not as strong as before,” Loo said.
Loo suggested that the library station could benefit from upgrades for better weather protection.
“It is not conducive for people to sit and read for long hours because there is very little shade. When it rains, there is a big chance that the books may get wet and damaged,” he noted.
Despite these challenges, Lee’s library remains popular with community members and park visitors, many of whom come to borrow and donate books, contributing to this unique literary sanctuary.
