The library has an extensive collection of books on Southeast Asian culture.

The MCG Library has a new home! The books can now be found in the Museum Volunteers Room at the Muzium Negara (National Museum.) This makes them more easily accessible to MCG members and also available to Museum Volunteers. From being an underutilized resource the library has now become a more useful treasure for more people. There's plenty of parking at the museum (and you can stop in and see the museum while you're there.) There are even some comfortable chairs if you'd just like to sit and browse through some books.

At the time I'm writing this, a firm schedule hasn't been established yet, so please send an email to library@malaysianculturegroup.com  to confirm open library hours. To find the room, go through the gate at the Museum and go straight; just past the museum exit and gift shop, there's another door leading to the Museum offices.  It’s on the left, under a bridge connecting the two buildings. You might be asked to show an MCG membership card by the guard at the door.  (If you have paid your membership dues for 2008, you have been sent a membership card. If not, please contact the membership secretary at membership@malaysianculturegroup.com )

And  thank you to Lynn Davies for hosting the library for the past two years.

Good news for book lovers: Anthony Burgess' The Malayan Trilogy (also published as The Long Day Wanes) has been unbanned in Malaysia. Booksellers are now able to order the book (if they don't have it on their shelves.) This is probably the most popular book in the MCG Library. Bad news for book lovers: the list of banned books continues to grow. Many of the books that have been banned are books about Islam that don't conform to the government's standard of orthodoxy.

Minna Schwarz-Seim