Learning centre is high-tech haven
By Itsarin Tisantia
Photos by Itsarin Tisantia
Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda Learning Centre was established in honour of the late Princess HRH Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, who nurtured education in the kingdom throughout her life.
Thailand’s first official and largest bookless library, Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda Learning Centre, is located at Thammasat University. The centre is open 24 hours during exam periods and has recently become popular among university students.
SLEEPLESS SOCIETY
The five-storey Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda Learning Centre building is situated on Thammasat Unviersity’s Rangsit Campus. The centre is open daily from 8 am to midnight, Monday to Friday, and from 10 am to midnight on weekends. It is closed on official holidays.
“During the month ahead of the mid-term and final exam periods, the centre is open 24 hours a day so that students can make preparations for their upcoming exams here,” said centre director Srichan Chancheewa. "We provide a wide range of facilities, from a small room for a few people to a large room with the capacity for more than 30 people."
CHIC CENTRE
The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, for example, tablets and PCs — on which users can access research papers, journals, magazines, textbooks and e-books through its online server.
“Apart from the search engine tools, the centre provides large zones on the second and third floors where students can make up their own tutoring classes. They can even rest or sleep on couches here,” Srichan pointed out.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Unlike other libraries that require users to keep silent, Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda Learning Centre provides a number of soundproof rooms, where music students can play instruments.
In addition, the centre also offers a movie room, where dancing and acting students can rehearse their plays and lessons.
Exercises
Read through the story. Then, answer the following reading comprehension questions.
1. How many storeys tall is the learning centre?
……………………..
2. Where is the centre located?
……………………..
3. During one month prior to the exam periods, the centre will be open 24 hours a day. True or false?
……………………..
4. The centre doesn’t provide soundproof rooms. True or false?
……………………..
Vocabulary
- nurture (v): to care for and protect somebody or something while they are growing and developing
state-of-the-art (adj): using the most modern or advanced techniques or methods
search engine (n): a computer program that searches the Internet for information
soundproof (adj): made so that sound cannot pass through it or into it
