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OUR LIBRARY
The Siam Society's collection of research manuscripts, books, rare books, photos, micro-film, tapes, videos, maps and traditional manuscripts on palm leaf, and other documents constitute the first non-privately owned library in Thailand.
The Siam Society library is noted for its outstanding rare books collection, most of which is related to Southeast Asia.
THE FOUNDING LIBRARY - 1904
The Siam Society was founded in 1904 in cooperation with Thai and foreign scholars. The Society quickly became a learned society whose members included many of the most illustrious historians, archaeologists and epigraphers of that period.
The primary purpose of the society's library was to make this information available to its membership and the research community. The library also supports investigation and background information for its many activities: local and international study trips; lectures by noted experts and scholars; art and artifact exhibitions of international standard; classical and contemporary cultural and musical performances; seminars, and publications by the Siam Society including, two international recognized periodicals, the Journal of the Siam Society (JSS) and the Natural History Bulletin (NHB).
From its inception, the Siam Society's objective was to encourage research and information gathering on art, history, culture and natural sciences of Thailand and neighboring countries. In 1924, "Knowledge gives rise to friendship" was adopted as the Siam Society's motto to convey the message that the search for knowledge is the bridge to friendship between nations.
THE PRESERVATION AND MODERNIZATION OF THE LIBRARY 2000 - present
In 2000, in order to preserve the collection and assure future utilization of the library's rich research and reference holdings, the Siam Society embarked on a three-year effort to systematically implement:
- A restoration, conservation and preservation project
- An information preservation program
- An improved library management plan
- A library automation system
The goals to preserve and modernize the Siam Society's library are to:
- Restore and preserve the collection
- Elevate the library to a first-rate research and reference library facility
- Increase accessibility
Further improvements include:
- An On-line Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and inter-library links to increase search and access
- Capabilities, thereby facilitating access to external databases and web access linkages.
- An improved library management system combined with a staff training program has also significantly enhanced the service levels provided to patrons.
- Ongoing rehabilitation of the Periodicals collection.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIBRARY
Type of Library |
Library specialized in the Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences of Thailand and neighboring countries. Extensive collection on Buddhism |
Library Hours |
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00am - 5:00pm |
The Collection (approximately 25,000 volumes in Thai, English, French, etc.) |
|
Catalog |
Author / Title / Subject Cards |
Subject Headings |
English Library of Congress Subject Headings Thai Subject Headings by Thai Higher Education Association |
Classification System |
Dewey Decimal Classification |
Library Automation System |
Softlink Alice |