We happened across this small public library (above) on our day trip to Melaka. It’s inside a shop house on Jonker Walk. In the library foyer we met a man who might have worked in the library or might just have been running the Buddhist bookstall that was in the foyer. We had a short chat with him about where we were from and Mr C managed to confuse him by looking Chinese but not being able to speak any. In Mr C’s defence he did try to learn Chinese when he was younger and can speak pretty good Malay. However, we came away from our conversation with the library man thinking that we might really try and learn Chinese sometime soon. Not quite sure when or how, but never mind!
While we were in the library entrance I took the opportunity to read the library rules, which were a lot stricter than the rules in the Library of Doom, to say the least. 
I was particularly amused by the rule against sleeping in the library (number 13), but slightly perturbed by the one about no laughing (number 4). I don’t think I would be able to work in a library where laughing was against the rules, otherwise I would go insane. I hope, for the sake of the Melaka library’s staff, that they have areas of their own where they can go and let off steam.
I imagine all the library staff at the library in Melaka behaving like the librarians in the Kit-Kat advert, running into their staff room (if they have one, not sure what they would do if not!) shutting the door and shouting, laughing, and quite possibly running about.
I wonder why people aren’t allowed to sleep in the library? Perhaps there isn’t much room and they would take up valuable reading space. I suppose that people might go into the library purely to have a nap and people who wanted to use the library to study might not have enough room to do so. I don’t think many students would last very long in this library! I’m also a bit puzzled by the rule about not leaning against the wall (number 14). What would happen if someone lent against the wall? Would the library fall down? Would a secret passageway be revealed? I would love to know.
No sleeping in the library?!?
If my University had had a rule like that…and enforced it…I’d never have had ANY sleep in college. I mean, come on! Who could sleep in a dormitory with 300 of your closest friends hanging out every window?
Glad you’re back, Mouse. I’ll be keeping you in mind on the 18th.
Thanks.
One of my friends at university also got most of his sleep in the library. I used to wander into the theology section and find him looking very peaceful with his head on the desk.