Public libraries in Penang: branches, opening hours and membership fees

Penang's public libraries are run by the Penang Public Library Corporation (PPAPP), with the State Library in Seberang Jaya and branch, town, shopping centre, digital and village libraries across the island and the mainland. Membership at the State Library and branches costs RM2 for an adult citizen and is free for citizens aged 55 and over, while an adult non-citizen pays RM20 to register and RM40 a year.

The short version

PPAPP's pages give no list of the village libraries and no mobile library timetable.

Every library is closed on public holidays. The State Library is closed on Mondays; district, town and digital libraries on Mondays and Tuesdays.

• Borrowing: 5 books, 1 magazine and 1 media item at a time, for 14 days. Bring your MyKad, MyKid or an authority card (Kad Kuasa).
• Media loans cost RM2.
• Leave your bag outside. PPAPP's rules say you may not bring in your own bags, files, books, magazines or newspapers.

Source: PPAPP opening hours, read 2026-10-17.

Membership fees

PPAPP's membership page gives these fees:

• You renew every year. PPAPP says membership must be renewed each year.
• Not published: PPAPP's pages do not give overdue fines or the fee for a lost card.
• What you need: your MyKad or MyKid, or an authority card (Kad Kuasa).
• Loans: up to 5 books, 1 magazine and 1 media item, for 14 days (2 weeks). You can renew a loan if no one else has reserved the item.

Sources: PPAPP membership and PPAPP services, read 2026-10-17.

Where the libraries are

PPAPP describes its network as a central library in Seberang Jaya; branch libraries in George Town, Balik Pulau, Bukit Mertajam, Jawi and Bertam; a Children's Library on Jalan Scotland; town libraries in Bagan Ajam and Simpang Ampat; libraries in the Komtar and AEON Bukit Mertajam shopping centres; a digital library in Tasek Gelugor; 46 state village libraries plus 34 more set up by the National Library and now run by PPAPP; and 12 mobile libraries, 2 of which serve people with disabilities (OKU). PPAPP's network division page counts the same network as 6 branch libraries, 2 town libraries, 1 digital library, 3 shopping centre libraries, 49 Siber Ilmu village (community) libraries and 12 mobile libraries, so the village library total differs between PPAPP's own pages.

PPAPP's own pages give addresses and phone numbers for these:

PPAPP's site gives no address for the State Library, the Bukit Mertajam, Jawi or Balik Pulau branches, or the Komtar library. The catalogue site gives different hours from the hours page: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:45am to 6pm, closed on public holidays. Ring the library before a first visit. PPAPP's network division, which looks after the branch, town, digital, shopping centre, village and mobile libraries, gives 04-3971058.

Sources: PPAPP pages on its history and network, district libraries, town libraries, the digital library, shopping centre libraries, Rumah Buku, Rumah Ilmu Telok Air Tawar, the network division and the online catalogue, read 2026-10-17.

What you can use there

PPAPP lists, among its services: a reference collection in four languages (Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil), inter-library loans, a Penang collection, internet access and WiFi, netbook loans, discussion rooms, a children's section with a toy library, an American Corner, a PS5 gaming area, reading material for people with visual impairments, and facilities to rent.

House rules. The rules page says you may not talk loudly, eat, drink, smoke, spit or sleep in the library, and you may not bring in your own bags, files, bound notes, books, magazines or newspapers, jackets, crash helmets, scissors, knives or pets. Dress neatly. If you damage a book, you pay for a replacement.

A long history. PPAPP began work in January 1973 when it took over the Penang Library, which PPAPP calls the first subscription library in Malaysia, open since 1817.

Sources: PPAPP services, PPAPP rules and PPAPP history, read 2026-10-17.

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