Continuing & Sustainable Learning Centre in Thailand: Relearning Space @Library

With technological advancement and changing data-searching behavior, the number of public library patrons has been declining over time. The Thai Library Association (TLA), with support from the SET Foundation, has turned this crisis into an opportunity by transforming library spaces into new learning sources through the project, Continuing & Sustainable Learning Center: Relearning Space @Library.

Connecting Reading with Job Opportunities in the Community

Public libraries serve as community centres. The Relearning Space@Library project focuses on connecting reading with new learning to support and promote the use of public library spaces for relearning and new skill development. This builds on existing wisdom to help community members pursue a second jobs and income-generating activities.

Continuing & Sustainable Learning Center: Relearning Space @Library

The project began at Surat Thani Provincial Public Library and Uttaradit Provincial Public Library under the supervision of the Office of Surat Thani and Uttaradit Provincial Non-Formal and Informal Education, Ministry of Education. The Office has since changed its name to the Department of Learning Encouragement (DoLE). DoLE has provided strong cooperation and support to the project with the aim of establishing it as a model for future Continuing & Sustainable Learning Centers. The project started in 2020.

COVID-19: Turning Crisis into Opportunity

In 2020, we experienced the global COVID-19 pandemic, which widely impacted the economic situation at all levels, from households to the global economy. Face masks were desperately needed to reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 respiratory virus and the increased public demand caused a shortage in face masks.

However, the two public libraries adjusted their planned activities to respond to the crisis. They first learnt to make face masks for distribution among community members. They later developed their skills and eventually made beautiful masks fit for purpose while generating income. This activity is considered the first initiative of the Continuing & Sustainable Learning Center, which proved useful and responsive to the situation.

Surat Thani Provincial Public Library provided a face mask making course free of charge for community members and many interested people joined the course. This activity generated income for the participants. Later, they expanded their products to include hats and bags that coordinated with clothing in terms of pattern and color. These products became popular and were ordered by community members and government officials.

The success of the clothing products inspired expansion into other activities such as savoury food and dessert making. Surat Thani Provincial Public Library has been supported by network organisations in the province with raw materials for clothing and straw bags. Today, Surat Thani Provincial Public Library has developed its products to meet the standard of community products and registered them as One Tambon One Product (OTOP) products. The community members have also banded together to produce and sell countrywide under the brand Pimjai Clothing Small Enterprise.

Meanwhile, Uttaradit Provincial Public Library, with the support of Uttaradit Rajabhat University, provided training on savoury food and dessert making, natural packaging making, and face mask making for community members. The training proved useful and responsive to the shortage situation. There has also been training in clothing product development, organic farming and leaf-printed fabric for use in the garden and household. Not limited to these, the library has ventured into culture and traditional conservation, especially the Phraya Pichai Dab Hak boxing style.

The Growth of Continuing & Sustainable Learning Center…Towards Year 6

In 2025, the Thai Library Association has expanded the Continuing & Sustainable Learning Center from two to nine centres in nine provinces, including Lampang Provincial Public Library, Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Public Library, Phetchaboon Provincial Public Library, Khon Kaen Provincial Public Library, Samut Songkram Provincial Public Library, Kanchanaburi Provincial Public Library and Yala Provincial Public Library. Each area conducted community needs surveys and provided ongoing knowledge and skill training, volunteer resource person training, product and package development training. They also registered their products as OTOP products to instill pride in their work. Products include leaf-printed fabric, tie-dyed clothing, food and beverages, as well as handicrafts. Community members have formed groups to produce together.

The new learning has generated income as well as happiness. There is a new dimension of community relations and bonding through learning, training and sharing. It also generates additional occupations as second jobs for community members. The project also helps to foster online exchange among public libraries, tightening their relationships. Particularly, the cooperation of network organisations has resulted in the success of the Continuing and Sustainable Learning Center project. In sum, the project has integrated the participation, learning and exchange of people across three generations, bringing happiness to them all.

Contributed by Suchit Suvaphab, Vice President, Thai Library Association