SHAH ALAM, Jan 25 — On a peaceful weekend, a quiet building in a residential neighbourhood suddenly comes alive. The atmosphere turns cheerful when a community gathers, bound by a shared passion understood only by true bookworms.
Visitors arrive one by one, some carrying bags filled with old books, others leafing through stories on the shelves, while some simply chat about their favourite reads.
Yet the space is neither a library nor a bookshop. There are no price tags, and no payment counter in sight. Only wooden shelves holding thousands of books of various genres, waiting to be chosen, returned or given a new ‘life’.
That is the Setia Alam Book Exchange Centre, located less than 30 minutes from Shah Alam city centre, a community hub where visitors can donate used books or pick up reading materials for free.
The concept is simple, but its impact is far-reaching. Giving books a second chance also opens the door to free education for anyone willing to read.
According to the Shah Alam City Council's (MBSA) Community Development Department's Library and Collaborative Networks Unit assistant director Rafida Abdul Rahman, the initiative began with the voices of the community itself.
“At that time, community representatives were organising small-scale book exchange activities, some even held at bus stops. They later approached MBSA to look for a more suitable and consistent location,” she said.
Operating on the second and fourth Sundays of the month since 2016, the centre remains the only free book exchange centre under MBSA.
“MBSA only provides the space and operational support. The community fully drives this centre. If the community is not active, the centre will not come alive,” Rafida said.
The shelves are filled with novels, comics, fiction, religious books, and general reading materials, all donated by the public. Workbooks are not accepted, while new books are not a priority.
“Most of these books actually come from residents’ own homes. For example, children’s books that are no longer used as they grow older. Instead of keeping them or throwing them away, they can be shared with others,” she said.
To date, over 10,000 copies line the shelves. Announcements are made through the official Facebook page, and each time the doors open, around 20 to 30 visitors attend, not only from Setia Alam but also from Klang, Kuala Lumpur, and Puchong.
The initiative was sparked by the efforts of two early volunteers: Nur Asyikin Mohd Yunus and Agnes Yeoh.
“MBSA has provided a great deal of support in terms of space, bookshelves and operational staff. Without this support, it would be quite difficult for a community project like this to survive in the long run,” said Asyikin.
For Yeoh, the centre has become a social space that nurtures community connections.
“People do not come just to take books. They talk, share their love for reading, and exchange views. From there, community bonds are formed naturally,” she explained.
The centre has also become a favourite among parents, as the price of children’s books in the market continues to rise. But here, every book is a gift.
Behind its simplicity, the book exchange centre carries a powerful message. It supports inclusive education, promotes recycling practices, and builds a community based on mutual trust.
The existence of such a small space may seem modest. Yet through the combined efforts of the local authority and the community, old pages are given a second life for bookworms.
