Founded in 2017 by Amateur, Au Sow Yee Studio and In Between Cultura, Rumah Attap Library & Collective is set up in a restored shophouse at The Zhongshan Building in Kampung Attap. It serves many functions: as a library and a space for reading, forums, and discussions, where artists, researchers and like-minded intellects are able to come together and exchange books and ideas on the arts, cultural studies, literature, philosophy, and social sciences. It regularly plays host to book readings, film screenings and cultural talks.
Despite its small size, it houses over 5,000 books: some inherited from a now-defunct humanities library run by the alumni of USM, and more by public donation; two-thirds of the library’s collection are Chinese-language books and journals, the remaining one-third is in English and Malay. As it is an independent non-profit collectively maintained with the help of volunteers, donations are welcome to sustain the operations of the space.
Membership fee RM100 first year, RM50 every subsequent year. For students, houseworkers, senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (OKU), membership fee is RM50 first year, RM25 every subsequent year.