Bangkok has launched a free online library that offers e-books for readers anywhere in the city.

The BKK X Hibrary application was unveiled on Tuesday at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre by deputy city governor Sanon Wangsrangboon.

The BKK X Hibrary app is a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Hytexts Interactive, which operates the Hibrary app. The project provides free digital library books to read on smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers.

Readers browsing the digital shelves of the app-based library will find 500 e-magazines and newspapers and over 1,000 e-books.

The e-library’s launch coincides with the Bangkok Witthaya campaign this month, which promotes reading and learning throughout the city through a variety of activities.

“The e-library is one of the projects that Governor Chadchart Sittipunt was keen to see in Bangkok,” Sanon said. “The governor said a good library is not a luxurious one, but one that is closest to people’s homes and therefore easily accessible.”

He said that although Bangkok boasts 34 public libraries and 160 community libraries, this was still not enough to cater to the reading needs of all Bangkokians.

“We have been piloting this project for a year, studying feedback from readers for our plans to add more books in the future,” Sanon said. Ongoing improvement of the city’s online and traditional libraries would go hand in hand, he added.

Currently, the new e-library has a limit of 200,000 accounts for checking out books. Sanon promised the platform will soon be expanded to accommodate more members, while the queuing system will also be improved to reduce waiting time.

To use BKK X Hibrary e-library, go to bkk.hibrary.me or download the app on your mobile device. The app is available in both iOS and Android versions.

For more, visit facebook.com/HibrarybyHytexts/