This is very cool.

15 seconds ago - BREAKING NEWS
Community library open to receiving unused books
Rhea Mae Soco / Khmer Times
Irina Chakraborty, founder of "Bonnalai Titouy" showing the books in the community library. KT/ Chor Sokunthea

Book lovers in Phnom Penh are encouraged to donate their unused books to the soon to be launched community library at YK Art House located at Street 830 for public sharing.

The library called “Bonnalai Titouy”, a Khmer term which means ‘owl library’ is founded by Irina Chakraborty, who has been living in Cambodia for nine years.

Chakraborty who has been a member of a book club in Phnom Penh told Khmer Times that her idea of creating a community library came after her experiences of exchanging books in the club.

“You never know what you get in the book club. Then I realised, what if we have a centralised online database?” she said when telling how her idea of creating a community library started.

Book lovers need to donate at least five books to become a member of the library. Currently, Bonnalai Titouy has around 500 books in the YK Art House with another 100 e-books available for online readers at https://ykarthouse.libib.com/.

“Anyone can browse our link and click on tags to select the categories like fiction and non-fiction stories. You will also be able to see whether the book you are looking for is available at YK or currently checked out. If you see a book on the site that’s marked as not available, you can message us and we’ll get in touch with the current borrower,” said Chakraborty, adding that members can keep the books up to three months.

She assured that all books are original as a mark of respect to the authors.

Apart from having easy access to good books including expensive new ones, Chakraborty hopes the community library will be a good place for those moving or leaving Cambodia to give away their books if they wanted to.

In the past few months, she said, many people had left the country with not knowing where to give their books away and she had gathered them. That also inspired her to start the community library.

“Many of us buy new books which can be expensive. Here, they can share with others and they can benefit from these books. Let us share as a community,” she said.

After a year of preparation, Chakraborty is now calling for volunteers to help her test the system before the official launch of the Bonnalai Titouy on February 21.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50805936/c ... sed-books/

John Bingham wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 6:58 pm That's good news, I always liked Bohr's.

Bohr's moved to Kampot. Any other bookstore in Phnom Penh in that price range? Either for second hand books or the Cambodian re-editions?

CamboPete wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 10:31 am Bohr's moved to Kampot. Any other bookstore in Phnom Penh in that price range? Either for second hand books or the Cambodian re-editions?

Bohr's in Kampot says temporarily closed on Google. Do you (or anyone else) know if that's the correct current status?

Wouldn't mind the drive if i knew it was open

ItWasntMe wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 10:48 am

CamboPete wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 10:31 am Bohr's moved to Kampot. Any other bookstore in Phnom Penh in that price range? Either for second hand books or the Cambodian re-editions?

Bohr's in Kampot says temporarily closed on Google. Do you (or anyone else) know if that's the correct current status?

Wouldn't mind the drive if i knew it was open

Did not follow up on that and was not aware that they are closed in Kampot. But they have a facebook page and their old mobile number/email address might be also worth a try.
Their (former) PP location was labelled as "temporary closed" on google maps for ages as well. That entry was gone when I checked today, so I googled them.
Hope they can manage to reopen! Would def visit them when in Kampot next time.

Have you stumbled upon a Bohr's-esque shop in PP by any chance?

CamboPete wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:47 pm Did not follow up on that and was not aware that they are closed in Kampot. But they have a facebook page and their old mobile number/email address might be also worth a try.
Their (former) PP location was labelled as "temporary closed" on google maps for ages as well. That entry was gone when I checked today, so I googled them.
Hope they can manage to reopen! Would def visit them when in Kampot next time.

Have you stumbled upon a Bohr's-esque shop in PP by any chance?

Am unable to help unfortunately.
Searching on CEO was my first humble attempt at finding a store, any bookstore in fact.

So thanks for the tip off!

I don't know of any that still exist. Even Monument has a fraction of what they used to carry.

D's still opens as a pop-up on occasion, she posts details on her Facebook page, unfortunately she can't afford to operate a dedicated full time 2nd hand bookstore, and was recently trying to fundraise so she could reopen.

Damn shame there's no dedicated 2nd hand bookstores left in PP

Doc67 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:58 am An oasis of culture in a desert of depravity; Canterbury Tales in Pattaya.

When you walk in it smells like an old library from your earliest memories.

yep (they just moved to Soi Bongkot) From 2nd Road go inside Soi Bongkot ca. 1,5 km down the Soi close to the second Seven Eleven.