Penang Digital Library Phase 2 will be ready in 2018: Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Digital Library Phase 2 (PDL-P2) to be constructed in the state government quarters building here is expected to be fully operational by the end of Dec next year.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said PDL-P2 was the first extension of the Penang Digital Library (PDL), located at Jalan Masjid Negeri, next to the Penang Free School, here, following an overwhelming response.
Since it started operations on Oct 8, last year, PDL, the first digital library in Malaysia has reached membership registration of 2,800; 2,400 users of the library's ReadCasa application; 59,000 of Google searches, ranked 4.1 / 5.00; and Facebook ranking at 4.2 / 5.00.
"The existing PDL can only accommodate 100 to 120 users at any one time on weekdays and it can not accommodate the increased number of users on Sundays and public holidays," he told reporters here today.
Lim said the state government had allocated RM10.8 million for the PDL-P2 project, themed 'library in the park' with a total area of 16,000 sq ft and could accommodate 540 users at any one time, four times higher than the current PDL capacity.
He said PDL-P2 would focus on Esteam (English, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) concept and 20,000 Esteam-based electronic readings would also be provided. — Bernama