PPT Script for History of Thailand National Library

Founded in 1881 during the reign of King Rama Chulalongkorn.

the library in Siam emerged as a strategic institution in response to the challenges posed by colonial
threats. It played a vital role in supporting administrative reforms, especially the thesaphiban reform, by
providing the necessary knowledge base and contributing to the establishment of authority over the
country's diverse cultural and historical heritage
It was formed and established as a "half-club and half-library.
It served both intellectual and social functions, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of
knowledge while also providing a space for cultural and social exchange among the elite.
Library committee members were elected in 1881 so that they could begin to procure necessaryitems such
as furniture and books. Pince Devavongse, Chulalongkorn 's half-brother, drafted the rules of the library
The first committee comprised seven members, with Prince Phanurangsri as the first committee comprised
sevenmembers, with Prince Phanurangsri as the president. There was onewoman member from the fai nai
cour
In 1882 an amendment to the appointment of the library committee. President was elected first; he then
appointed the secretary, treasurer, recorder, librarian, and host. Each of these positions had one assistant,
so the committee consisted of eleven members in total. The ordinary monthly meetings of the committee, at
which issues concerning management and administration of the library were discussed.

Administered by scholars and with the highest executive positions in the government.

As the new, dominant centre of knowledge in the kingdom, the Library served and was administered by a
different order of scholars to those of the previously dominant sources of knowledge. The latter the
monkhood, scribes, astrologers, brahmans, royal pandits, and others were being eclipsed at the elite level
by a new group of men from the aristocracy and the nobility who held the highest executive positions in the
government during the Fifth Reign. Indeed, the most active figures in the Library organisation were those
who were simultaneously carrying out the enormous transformations of the kingdom at the time. Among
them were Chulalongkorn himself; Crown Prince Vajiravudh; Prince Sommot; Prince Damrong (who was
also Minister of Education and later Minister of the Interior); Prince Phanurangsi, Minister of War; Prince
Devawongse, the long-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Phichit Prichakorn; Prince
Naritsaranuwatiwong; Prince Naret Worarit, Minister of the Capital; Prince Narathip Praphanphong, one-
time Minister of Finance; and many other senior princes. Each year the headship of the Library changed, so
that by 1905 twenty-one princes had held the position.49 The Library was thus an institution operated by,
and in the interests of, the Thai court.
Ownership vs Accesbiltiy
Before the establishment of the library, the collections were preserved in the palace, temples and private
place. These earlier repositories primarily focused on preserving manuscripts and books with a selective
approach, concentrating predomianantly on Buddhist content and serve as symbols of social status with an
emphasis on preservation and ownership rather than accessibility. The increased contact with foreign
knowledge and the integration of the Thai state prompted a new perspective. The Library aimed to redefine
the role of libraries by aspiring to house a comprehensive collection of written works, encompassing the
diverse aspects of the kingdom's people, culture, history, literature, and sciences.

He played a pivotal role in encouraging this new form of learning, making it a foundation for educational
reforms during his reign
The Siamise royal elite perceive knowledge in new manner. They thought that knowledge is fixed and
unchanging rather than increasing. They finally saw that knowledge could be accumulated or increased.

He ordered the amalgamation of the three royal libraries.

Mandira Dharma Library, the Vajirañāṇa Library, and the Buddhasasana Sangaha Library into one
organization named the Hor aPhrasamut samrap Phranakhorn, or "State Library".
Accumulate modern knowledge
The library became a key institution in fulfilling the mission of the thesaphiban reform. (control over
territory). Its role extended beyond being a repository of books; it played a crucial part in collecting,
preserving, and organizing knowledge about the country, including its cultural heritage
Library aimed for universality by procuring books from various sources,
including international orders through agencies and exchanges with learned societies like the Royal Asiatic
Society in the United Kingdom. The library's goal was to transition from a mere repository of modern
knowledge to a reading space accessible to its members, reflecting the changing perception of knowledge
among the Siamese elite. Accommodating a growing collection in both Thai and Western languages. The
provision of this reading space became a crucial function of the library. By 1886, the library boasted 746
Thai-language books and 7,599 books in foreign languages. In 1890, a comprehensive catalog was
compiled, listing 6,564 entries, with Western-language books categorized by subject and Thai-language
books classified by genre or function (e.g., textbooks, legal books, etc.). The shift towards cataloging and
classification reflected the library's evolving role in facilitating organized access to its expanding collection.

The library functioned not only as a repository but also as a place for recreation with billiard tables and
withdrawing rooms.
Billiards was a popular recreational activity and fees were charged for playing, and food was served in the
library and the vice president was responsible for the preparation.
Center of Recreational Education
The Library organized educational and recreational activities to promote knowledge and engage the public..
The event included a fair with booths selling goods and products from both Siam and abroad, as well as
games and competitions.
To further promote knowledge, handicraft work such as flower arrangements, sewing, embroidery,
sculpture, and wickerwork was exhibited. A book of verse entitled "Wachirayan suphasit" was published for
distribution. In 1896, an exhibition showcasing objects from Java, including stone images and decorative
items, was organized, attracting 37,541 visitors. These events reflected the library's commitment to
combining recreation with education and fostering a broader understanding of diverse knowledge and
cultures.
Cataloging
But it was not until 1905, after the Library's amalgamation with the two Buddhist libraries, that such a
project was attempted for the collection of the kingdom's own books. The scheme the Library decided upon
was to divide its entire collection into three broad categories: "books on Buddhism" (nangsu Phrasatsana);
"foreign [language] books" (nangsu tangprathet); and "Thai books" (nangsu Thai).By Damrong's own
admission this system was far from perfect. One of the main problems was that most of the "old" books
contained in the Library collection were "religious" in content, including almost all the older books in the
Thai language. So a modified classification system was later implemented, based on language: books
written in Pali were classified under the category of "Buddhism"; those written in Thai went under the
category of "Thai"; and those written in all other languages fell into the category of "Foreign". Apart from the
new category of "Thai", the Library also introduced a number of new subcategories, which provide a further
indication of how Thai knowledge was conceptualized by the court at the time. By 1915 "Thai" books were
divided into three major sub-categories: Borannakhadi (history), Wannakhadi (literature), and Tamra

References:
Tejasen, C., & Luyt, B. (2014). The Hophrasamut Wachirayan: Library and Club of
the Siamese Aristocracy, 1881-1905. Information & Culture, 49(3), 386–400.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/43737398

Jory, P. (2000). Books and the Nation: The Making of Thailand’s National Library. Journal of
Southeast Asian Studies, 31(2), 351–373. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20072255

The Siamese National Library, Bangkok. (1926). Libraries and library work in Siam; origin of
the national library. Bulletin of the American Library Association, 20(10), 264–269.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25686571