Bangkok's Premier Collection of English Language Books
More than great books!
Visit our art exhibitions
Learn new skills in creative workshops
Enjoy storytelling and other family events
Delicious treats await at our Cafe. . .
This elegant building is available for private events
Click "What's On?" and discover more!
Housing more than 20,000 books, the Neilson Hays Library is one of the largest collection of English language titles in Bangkok. Offering a wide variety of contemporary fiction and non-fiction, fresh books arrive every month. Check out our latest titles to see what's new right now. We also stock an impressive array of magazines and newspapers.
Whether you are looking for the latest crime thriller, a recipe for a dinner party or far-flung travel ideas - you will find inspiration here, along with many books on the SE Asian region (including some early editions) that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Members are welcome to browse links such as the Guardian Book Review or New York Times Book Review and submit suggestions for new books to our monthly book-buying meeting - if suitable, we will gladly purchase them. Please attach a copy of the review to the book request slip, available at the Library reception desk.
Latest News! We are proud to have extended our selection of magazines and now include a choice array of monthly publications such as Tatler, House and Garden and Oprah. Treat yourself to a browse, who knows what inspiration lies inside the pages? Magazines may be borrowed on a weekly basis for a small fee.
Visit the History page (above) to learn about the pioneering women who created the original book collection in 1869. Find out why the present building was commissioned nearly 90 years ago and named after a beloved wife, who sadly never saw the building herself.
Please note: our online catalogue browse function is currently being updated.
We are pleased to offer all AMCHAM members a special promotion for 2011:
Simply come along to the Library at a time to suit you and show your AMCHAM card. You can join and check out books straightaway.
We look forward to welcoming AMCHAM members!
Download details of offer here:
AMCHAM-NHLPROMO.pdf
Daily life in Bangkok was very different in 1869 when The Bangkok Ladies' Library Association was first founded. Most of what is now today's modern city was then a lush network of swamps, klongs and small settlements. Such would have been the case for the Silom (Windmill) area; Surawong Road itself was not to be built until later in 1897. At this time King Rama V was a young man, recently crowned and destined to lead Siam through many changes.
Life for early Western residents could be harsh. Devastating epidemics were frequent. Western luxuries such as books were treasured items, a precious contact with home. Until the opening of the Suez Canal, freight from Europe or America could take six months or more to arrive in the Kingdom of Siam.
Thirteen resourceful British and American women established the Bangkok Ladies' Library Association in 1869, with the aim of circulating and sharing books. Initially staffed by volunteers and only open one day a week, by 1897 it was open every day (except Sunday) and a paid librarian was employed. Originally housed rent-free in various personal homes (and later in a chapel); by 1914 it was clear that a dedicated building was required. A plot of land in Surawong Road was purchased.
Around this time, one of the most active Board members was Jennie Neilson Hays. Danish by birth, she had lived in America and then entered Siam as a protestant missionary in 1881. Hearing that two suitable young American doctors were on their way to Bangkok, Jennie and a friend were said to have selected their respective future husbands prior to the gentlemen disembarking! Dr Thomas Heywood Hays became Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Hospital. Jennie was to serve as President of the Library three times and was a mainstay of the organisation for twenty years.
A letter sent to a Prince by Dr Hays can be viewed in the library. It offers an intimate glimpse into communication between expatriates and Thai Royalty during this period. The beautifully composed phrases and elegant hand-writing are worth seeing.
Sadly Jennie passed away suddenly in 1920 - possibly as a result of cholera. Dr Hays chose to honour his wife by commissioning a new Library to be built in her memory, using the plot of land purchased earlier. The result is our elegant neo-classical building; sadly never seen by her, but so appreciated by us today. It was opened on 26 June, 1922.
Designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno, this harmonious, symmetrical building wisely incorporates practical features such as double walls to help keep the books well-ventilated and dry. It displays a wealth of classical features such as stucco decorative motifs, columns and teak fixtures and fittings. Numerous original details (such as beautiful carved filing cabinets) still survive, many are still in active daily use! The architectural highlight is a beautiful Italianate dome, once the imposing entrance and now a unique art gallery. The building was described by the Bangkok Times at the time of its opening as "... a grand palace on a small scale", and it remains so today.
Mario Tamagno (in association with another Italian architect, Annibale Rigotti) also designed the prestigious Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. An additional example of his work is Hua Lampong Railway Station, another impressive reminder of a past era.
The Library thrived in its new and permanent home for many years, until a set-back in 1941 when the Japanese forces used it for billeting troops. More than 1,000 rare volumes were shipped to Japan during this time, along with precious architectural blueprints. Many books were subsequently returned; but some of the rarest books and blueprints are still missing.
The Building was awarded the status of "Historic Landmark" in 1986 by the Association of Siamese Architects. As one of the few remaining examples of secular period architecture in Bangkok, it is to be hoped that the building will always be treasured by both the Thai and expatriate communities.
A major achievement was the installation of air-conditioning in 1999! This has greatly enhanced comfort and the sense of oasis from the heat and traffic outside.
Following Dr Hays wishes, the Board of NHL is constitutionally composed of 12 ladies. We very much welcome and value our male membership and friends of the Library however. There are many opportunities for all members to get involved .
The NHL remains the oldest not-for-profit association in the Kingdom of Thailand. Financially however, the NHL struggles to stay secure, as the costs of maintaining this beautiful but ageing building are always growing. Sadly, the future of the Library is not assured. Sponsorship from individuals or companies is particularly valuable. Please visit our Support page for more information.
By joining us, you will enjoy everything the Library has to offer and help preserve the spirit of the past for future generations.
Thanks to Mari Scott Miyashita (Sawaddee Magazine: Q1, 2010) and Eric Lim (see his online article in the informative Tour Bangkok Legacies site) for much of the preceding information.
The bright and airy modern Garden Gallery doubles during the day as a busy cafe.
With a long white exhibition wall, the gallery offers contemporary and uncomplicated space.
The shady garden can be used to display durable outdoor art.
The Gallery Curator can advise exhibiting artists how to use this venue most effectively.
Please contact the Curator for information regarding hosting arrangements.
ROTUNDA GALLERY
Children's Activities
Saturday Storytelling
Special Family Events
School Visits
Annual Readathon
Welcome to your own Children's Corner!
We've made it cosy and comfortable for you, so snuggle up on a beanbag or sit at a small table and enjoy your favourite stories. Look out for new surprises that are waiting to be discovered!
If you are older - explore for yourself our exciting fiction and non-fiction collections. There is also a comprehensive section for Young Adults.
Our popular Saturday storytelling sessions run routinely throughout the year at 10.30am (excluding major public holidays, see "What's On?" for notification).
Hosted by enthusiastic volunteers and suitable for 3-7 year olds, each week we offer a story read in English, followed by a craft activity. Older brothers and sisters may browse the books independently and teenagers may like to volunteer to be the storyteller! Parents: please remain with and supervise your children at all times during the story and craft sessions.
Both members and non-members are always welcome -- however we ask that non-members give a donation of 50 baht per child to help cover the cost of materials etc.
The cafe is a popular place for families to have a snack and socialise afterwards.
Volunteers for Saturday Storytelling are welcomed. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
Regular special events for families are held, often reflecting the multi-cultural aspects of Bangkok's passing year, such as Loy Krathong, Halloween and Chinese New Year. Other events including "Firefighters' Day" are also popular and fun. Craft workshops and Art Festivals may be run, with special classes for younger members. Keep an eye on "What's On?" to make sure you and your family don't miss out!
NHL welcomes school visits and will tailor a short programme appropriate to the age and needs of the school group- a story and tour is included. Contact us to discuss arrangements.
The NHL encourages Bangkok children to read as many good books as possible to earn money from sponsors during our annual Readathon. The money raised is shared between a local children's charity and ourselves - it helps us buy more books for the children's shelves! Schools - please contact us.
Stunning and provocative work by diverse artists of many nationalities have been featured at the two Neilson Hays galleries. Artistic media include paintings, photography, textiles and ceramics. See Images (link left) for some recent exhibits. Many art-works are offered for sale during the exhibitions.
CURRENT EXHIBITION DETAILS
COMMUNICATION UPDATE
The Neilson Hays offers two distinct spaces for artists wishing to display their work: the Rotunda Gallery and the Garden Cafe Gallery. Click below for more details.
GARDEN GALLERY
Artist: Nino Sarabutra
Rotunda Gallery: Exhibition
Gardens of Eden
By Tjasa Iris
Jan 31st to Feb 26th, 2012
IN DETAIL
Garden Cafe Gallery: Exhibition
Colourful Figures in Unfamiliar Landscape
By Nancy Zarinda
Timeless Beauty of Classic Furniture
By Gold Bell
Feb 28 to March 26, 2012
Rethinking the Canvas
By Jaclyn Bain and Leilani Franklin-Apted
Feb 28 to March 25, 2012
Artist: Helen Lee
Are you looking for a unique and elegant venue for your wedding or family celebration?
Or maybe you require a prestigious setting for a bespoke business dinner or product launch? How about New Year cocktails for your clients in the garden?
Perhaps you need a photogenic backdrop for a film or commercial?
See our General Collection of images (link to left) which includes fashion shoots, weddings and receptions.
If desired, the adjacent British Club can provide excellent catering within the Library - ranging from a buffet and bar through to full course fine-dining.
We are always happy to discuss your specific requirements for holding a function at NHL. Please contact us .
The Garden Cafe and Gallery is now open every day from 9am to 6pm (but please note the Library and Rotunda Gallery are closed on Mondays).
The Garden Cafe is known for its good food and bright, airy ambience. With the option of an air conditioned interior or sitting outside in the pretty garden, it is popular with Library members and local business people alike.
The food is freshly prepared by the highly regarded chefs of the adjacent British Club. Many Western and Thai favourites are on the menu. Traditional Sunday lunches are particularly popular, as are the delicious homemade cakes and biscuits.
So why not select a good book and relax on the sofa with a cappuccino or cup of Earl Grey?
The regular art exhibitions provide an added visual treat.
The Library has approximately 600 members of all ages and many nationalities. All applications are warmly welcomed.
We are the oldest "not-for-profit" organisation in Thailand and depend for our survival on membership subcriptions, fund-raising events and sponsorship.
Individuals interested in sponsoring our activities, donating books or those who would like to get more involved with the running of the Library, please visit our Support page, above . Actively supporting the NHL can be very enjoyable and rewarding.
AMCHAM members: please check out our 2011 AMCHAM - NHL Promotion
New Membership
Membership categories and fees vary to suit different needs, see below. Please note that the "new" category refers to books that are less than 1 year old and are therefore likely to be in high demand.
To join, please consider which Membership Type best suits you (below) and fill out the online form .
You may submit the form electronically or if you are coming to the Library in person, you may prefer to print it out and bring it with you.
You may pay by cash in person but please do not mail cash. Instead use a cheque or bank transfer - kindly contact us for Library bank transfer details.
Books may be borrowed following confirmation of new membership - normally straightaway.
Membership Types and Fees
Family: 3,300THB (or 2,400THB for 6 months) entitled to 12 hardcovers at a time - including 4 books from "new" category
Adult (age 22+ years): 2,500THB (or 1,900THB for 6 months) entitled to 6 hardcovers at a time - including 2 books from "new" category
Senior (age 65+ years): 1,500THB (or 1,200THB for 6 months) entitled to 6 hardcovers at a time - including 2 books from "new" category
Child (age up to 12 years): 1,700THB (or 1,200 for 6 months) entitled to 6 hardcovers - including 2 books from "new" category
Book Deposit
A one-off book deposit of 500THB is payable by new members. This deposit can be reclaimed when closing membership at the Library, providing all books have been returned.
Renewing Membership
Please use the online form . It can be sent to us electronically or printed out and brought to us on your next visit. Payment can be brought to Library or a cheque can be mailed. Please do not mail cash. Bank transfers can be made. Please contact us for the Library's bank details.
Would you like to Volunteer?
Donate Books?
Sponsor The Neilson Hays Library?
As Thailand's oldest non-profit making institution, the Library relies on your support and generosity for its survival.
Volunteer?
We are always delighted to receive offers to help, whether in a small or significant way. For example, would you be able to help at our twice-yearly book sales? Would you like to read to children on a Saturday morning or assist with the crafts? Could you help us perform book inventories?
Maybe you have skills that could improve aspects of library-management such as automating the stock and checking-out processes?
Would you like to assist the gallery curators?
Do you have fresh ideas for fundraising?
Simply call into the Library and make yourself known as a prospective volunteer or contact us and let us know how you would like to help.
Donation of Books?
We are grateful for book donations. Members of the Board will decide whether they are suited to the Library shelves or for our twice-yearly book sales. Book sales raise vital funds for new purchases. Please keep an eye on "What's On?" (left) to see when the next book sale is approaching.
Sponsorship?
It was only through Dr Heyward Hays' generous endowment that the library survived in the past. Currently we have no endowment remaining; so each passing year brings fresh financial challenges for this beautiful but ageing building. Sponsorship is vital for our future. Generous individuals and/or businesses may wish to become sponsors. We are pleased to thank significant donors (should they wish) with plaques and other gestures of recognition. Please contact us if you would like to be a sponsor, or if you have fundraising ideas for us.
Visit us at 195 Surawong Road, in the heart of Bangkok's Silom business district.
The Library is a 15 mins or so walk from Chong Nonsi BTS station or Sala Daeng BTS/MRT station. Taking a tuk-tuk or taxi from either of these stations should allow you to arrive within minutes and costs around 40-50 THB.
Should the Library be closed, there is a book drop facility at the gate for your returned items.
The Neilson Hays Library values your comments on our activities and this website. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions.
This is an elegant domed room, originally the imposing entrance to the Library. The circular floor is tiled in original teak and the walls feature neo-classical decorative stucco.
Modern art creates a particularly stunning contrast within this classical setting.
The Gallery Curator can advise exhibiting artists how to make the most of this unique space.
by Jaclyn Bain and Leilani Franklin-Apted
28th February to 25th of March, 2012
Garden Cafe Gallery
What happens when you remove the traditional tools of a painter? How would one begin, not with a blank canvas, but with a stripped frame, leaving only its four wooden sides? What if we employed unfamailiar materials and manipulated their offerings as a medium of artistic expression?
Rethinking the Canvas showcases an experiement literally within and beyond the wooden canvas frame, and an exploratory journey between artists Leilani and Jaclyn.
Together they depart from their brushes momentarily to "paint" on air with a variety of hardware and other found materials. Intriguing surfaces and sketches emerge as wire, nails and plastics were hammered, twisted and stretched into patterns and shapes. Thinking out of the canvas and repurposing materials resulted in atypical artpieces that further inspired a series of abstract acrylic paintings. This second series captures the quirky essence of its predecessors in colour, and infuses the collection with the artists' love for vibrant palettes and brushstrokes.
The duality of the exhibition mimics the two artists' energies coming together and how the challenge of shifting between mediums was kept light by the playful nature of the partnership.
Rethinking the Canvas will be the first collaborative show for Bangkok-based expat artists Jaclyn Bain and Leilani Franklin-Apted. To view more of their individual work please visit: www.BangkokPalette.com
Please contact us for further information about this exhibition.
Next Exhibition>
An Exhibition by Two Artists
Elsie Evans and Louise Truslow
Rotunda and Garden Cafe Gallery
November 29th, 2011 -- January 1st, 2012
The exhibition displays artwork in diversified materials of oil, water-colour, bronze and recycled glass sculptures inspired by daily encounters and new horizons by Elsie Evans and Louise Truslow.
Two women who have been contemporaries in the Bangkok arts scene for over twenty years present their first joint exhibition of new work at the Neilson Hays Library. While the title is reminiscent of the popular film from the 1990's starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, there is nothing tragic-comic or pseudo-feminist in their work but the show does promise to be one of those surprising zeitgeist-catching exhibits that expresses something essential about its time.
In an age where everyone and everything is viewed as a commodity, two decades later "Thelma and Louise" still resonates with our aspiring sense of freedom and escape from the mundanities of life that the film represents. Yet it is in the mundane that these two contemporary artists, Elsie Evans and Louise Truslow, find freedom and thrive on for their artistic expression.
Elsie's paintings in recent years have been of everyday scenes; her work responds to the sense of disorder seen everewhere in Bangkok's streets that an untrained eye might find slightly unnerving and unpredictable. But Elsie finds this oddly comforting, detecting the beauty, the unframed but composed structures, and bringing out her slightly whacky character on canvas.
It therefore comes as no surprise that Elsie was the first artist in Bangkok to join the new art movement Daily Painters that started in early 2006. A growing number of artists were finding each other on the internet, describing themselves as a Daily Painter. These artists range in varyng degrees of self-discipline from actually starting and finishing one complete painting in one day -- every day -- to just painting every day, and completing a few paintings each week.
Artists worldwide started joining the movement, and soon hundreds of people were connecting on the internet, swapping stories, showing their works, and giving each other tips on how to produce, post and sell these daily works of art. Elsie is one of the daily painters and pioneers the movement in Thailand from her studio in Bangkok. She paints from life, memory and sense.
"It began as an exercise to get me painting with a fresh approach -- it's very different to complete a piece of art in one day as opposed to a week or more, with breaks in between to reflect, change the mood, play with light and colours etc. I very quickly became addicted to the dailly painting approach and it gives my new work a sense or crispness that I perhaps lacked before," says Elsie.
For Louise, an arm injury last year had kept her away from the canvas and paints for several months. The prospect of working on a painting for hours over several days was challenging, but seeing Elsie's daily paintings was the catalyst for Louise to join the new movement.
"The approach taught me to focus on a specific detail of a bigger scene that I would perhaps normally try to paint. I was amazed and thrilled at the work I was producing and it was the perfect format for me to get painting again without damaging my arm. My work has always been based on nature and my immediate surroundings, the public is familiar with my cultural scenes, but through the daily paintings I saw things up close, I was engaged with nature in a very visual and visceral way," Louise says.
Elsie and Louise agree that they have found a new boldness and freedom to their work through the daily painting series. "You don't have time to contemplate, you just have to get on and do it," says Elsie.
Both artists had been inspired to try different mediums as a result of the experience. For Elsie, this manifests as itself in sculpture and the capturing of everyday scenes in clay. For Louise, who also works in Bangkok at her home studio, glass bottles have become her new-found freedom. Old wine, water and gin bottles are melted down, re-sculpted and returned to the kiln for firing to produce food platters, bowls and sculptures. Elsie and Louise will reveal their new approaches to art for the first time at this exhibit.
Although Louise's reductive realist paintings, recycled glass sculptures and Elsie's oil canvasses and clay assemblages were made independently, their journey has been very much a shared experience. While neither artist would necessarily say that their art reflects the city they call home, in both cases their work has been directly influenced by where they live and how they spend their time here.
Please contact us should you require further information.
Rosewood and Teak Furniture
by Gold Bell Furniture L.P.
On view at the Rotunda Gallery from February 28th to March 26th, 2012
Gold Bell Furniture was established in 1968, since then it has been our great pleasure to provide customers with quality handmade joint-assembled furniture made from solid rosewood and teak.
Although renowned for European and Chinese influenced styles, we have also experise in made-to-order furniture, custom made upholstery furniture and refinishing.
As an experienced furniture exporter for over 40 years, rest assured that no matter where you are, your orders will be delivered on time and in good condition. For more details please contact us!
We also offer a life long insurance for every piece of furniture to all the customers resident in Thailand.
Why Classic Furniture?
Classic furniture is unique: a timeless beauty. It has various styles you can choose from, as it comes from different countries (for example China, European etc) and different era. Because it is made from real solid wood, it stands the test of time. Furniture is not something you buy everyday, so it is better to stick with high quality wood. You can pass it on to the next generation. In my opinion, it's not something you buy for yourself; it's what you buy for your son or daughter and their family. It becomes not only a piece of wood, but a source of wonderful memories. "When I was about 5 years old my mother passed me a writing desk, plain design; she had already used it for 4 years. Now I'm 21 and I still come back home from University to use this desk." (Written by Pavita Chongsuksiri).
For more information please contact Khun Ranya Chongsuksiri on 081-5580985 (mobile)
Visit our two image collections:
The General Collection shows the beauty of the building; people enjoying events at NHL and elegant private celebrations.
The Art Collection showcases recent exhibits form both the Rotunda and Garden Galleries.
Artist: Louise Truslow
Contact us for membership enquiries, exhibition information and other general matters.
Press requiring information about featured artists or individuals planning their own exhibition, please specify that your query is for the Gallery Curators.
Tel: 02 233 1731; Fax 02 233 4999
Email: neilson.library_gmail.com
The Neilson Hays Library
195 Surawong Road
