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Main library of Bangkok
To honour king Mongkut or Rama IV on his Birthday Centennial Celebration, on 12th October 1905 King Chulalongkom or Rama V graciously decreed that three existed royal libraries, namely Vajiranana Library, Mandira Dhamma Library and Buddhasasana Sangaha Library be amalgamated and be named the Vajiranana National Library, to be used by the general public in Thailand. At first the Library was organized at the ground level of Chakri Mahaprasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace, then at Concordia Building or Salasahathai Samakhom. The library then moved to the Thavaravattu building outside the Palace walls, by royal command of King Vajiravudh or Rama VI in 1916.
At the opening ceremony, after the report by H.RH. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the then President of the Administrative Council of Vajiranana National Library (Gamsampatika) King Vajiravudh had graciously delivered his opening speech mentioned that he came to open the Vajiranana National Library according to two reasons. The first reason was due to his gratitude to his father King Chulalongkom who had eatablished the Vajiranana National Library. The second reason was his interests in literature and his realizing on the important and dignified tasks of the National Library. The King believed that, the library was the testiomony of prosperity of his beloved Thai people. "The nation without letter and without annals was considered the savage tribe. In fact Thai National had long been inherited with language and books. But these books were scattered, not yet collected in one place." "Some foreigners even said that Thai people had no language and no history. This points made you and me resented, unpleased with the words. That why the King wanted to make the library be developed. This manner would testify that the Thai was civilized people in the eyes of foreigners who is staying here and who would come to Siam in the future."
Then after King Prajadhipok or Rama VII ascending the throne, in 1925 he ordered to divided the Vajiranana National Library into Vajiravudh Library to honour his brother King Vajiravudh or Rama VI, and old Vajiranana Library. Vajiravudh Library housed Thai and foreign books, newspapers and pictures, while the Vajiranana Library in the Shivamokkhabiman at the Palace to the Front housed inscriptions, mamuscripts and gifted book cases. The King had graciously open the Library on 26th February 1926. In the same year the King established the Royal Institute to over see the Library, the Museum, and the Literature Association. on 3rd May 1932, due to the Decree on the Establishment of the Fine Arts Department, Vajiravudh Library and Vajiranana Libary become the National Library of Thailand under the Fines Art Department ever since.
In 1947, a new building was constructed within the ground of Vajiravudh Library to the east of Wat Mahadhatu with the purpose to house the private collections of books and personal objects of H.R.H. prince Damrong Rajanubhab given by his heir to the National Library. H.R.H. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab were an eminent statesman, and scholar "father of Thai historian and archaelolgist." This library was named "Damrong Rajanubhab Library." It was later moved to the precinct of The Prince's Voradis Palace at Lan Luang Road.
Years through years, there has been over increasing on the appreciation the National Library of roles in education, culture and national development. At the same time number of books and audiovisual materials were increasing while the number of clienteles were also rising. Realizing on the importance of the National Library, the budget was allocated by the Govermment to construct a new building for the National Library near Thavasukri Royal Landing Stage, Samsen Road, in 1962. The construction was completed and the new National Library was officially declared open on 5th May 1966. The new building in Thai architectural style, 5 storeys, is of space area for 16,000 square metres, In full capacity, over 1,000,000 volumes of books can be acdommodated with the provision of over 1,000 seats in 6 reading rooms. His Majesty the King and her Majesty the Queen had graciously visited the Library on 10th March 1967. In 1975, the budget was allocated by the Government for the cost of construction of a new 3 storeys building at the southern corner back of the main building, to house the valuable gilt bookcases. The building was renamed "Vajiranana Library'."
National Library has expanded its operations and activities both in. Bangkok and in the provinces as followin In Bangkok:
1. Naradhip Centre for Research in Social Sciences was set up in Thavaravauhu Building in 1979. The Centre houses private social sciences collection of His Royal Highness Prince Wan Waithayakon Krommamuen Naradhip Bongsprabandh and Prof. Boonchana Atthakorn.
2. King Vajiravudh Memorial Hall was constructed in 1981 in order to house the private collection of King Vajiravudh or Rama VI and also to display the Royal Exhibition on his activities.
3. Building number 3, In response to the needs of young reasers, a new building was constructed behind the main library, annexed to the reading services area for the purpose of extending the reading rooms. The construction was started in 1983 and completed by the end of 1984. Then it was officially declared open on 7th January 1985.
4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej Library was constructed and served the public since in 1990. The main purpose in constructing this building was to house public opinion documents which had been signed by people of Thailand all over the Kingdom to show their humble opinion to their beloved King as "King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great"
5. Princess Sirinthorn Music Library was constructed in 1988 and completed in 1991. The library was organized, furnished with audio-visual equipment and serving the public since 1994.
6. In 1997, King Rama IX Music Library was opened for public. The library houses library materials, audio - visual material on music and songs composed by King Rama IX.
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