Finding Community Through Books: My Journey with the Neilson Hays Library
By Kit Lang
When my family moved to Bangkok in 2022, my daughter was a year old and my son was three. We knew no one and were searching for a sense of community. I remembered something my grandmother always said: "When you move somewhere new, put up your curtains and find the local library." It was simple advice, but it proved to be exactly what we needed.
On one of our very first weekends in Bangkok, I searched for the Neilson Hays Library and attended Saturday Story Time. Ms. Sammy enthusiastically shared stories before leading the children through a fun craft activity. Surrounded by the library's beautiful historic architecture and warmly welcomed by families and staff, I realized we had found something special—we had found our community.
From that day on, Saturdays at the library became a family tradition. We attended Story Time almost every week, made lasting friendships, became members, enjoyed concerts, and watched the library community continue to grow.
In 2024, I was honored to join the library's Board of Directors as the Children's Programming Coordinator. Continuing the tradition established by the Bangkok Ladies' Library Association in 1869, the library's Board of Directors remains an all-women board. More than 150 years after its founding, the library continues to be a place where literacy, learning, and community come together.
Following the death of Jennie Neilson Hays in 1920, her husband, Dr. Thomas Heyward Hays, commissioned the beautiful neo-classical building that stands today in her memory, honoring her dedication to building community and championing literacy in Bangkok. It remains one of the city's most treasured historic landmarks, welcoming generations of readers, families, and lifelong learners through its doors.
Today, the Neilson Hays Library offers a wide variety of programs for children and adults. Every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., resident storytellers Ms. Sammy Thompson and Ms. Ashley Moles, along with guest authors and storytellers, bring books to life through engaging read-alouds followed by creative crafts. Story Time is free for library members and 250 ฿ per child for non-members. Throughout the year, the library hosts festive holiday Story Times celebrating Halloween, Christmas, Children's Day, Easter, Songkran, and more, with themed activities that make each event memorable for young families.
The library also partners with Pro Musica to present children's concerts that blend classical music with storytelling. These events introduce young audiences to music in a warm, welcoming environment while showcasing the remarkable acoustics of our historic building.
For adults, the library offers book clubs, flower arranging workshops, and Jennie’s Reading Corner, which encourages visitors to gather in the courtyard, enjoy the adjoining Fix Café, set aside their phones, and simply spend time reading together.
Visitors can browse our collection through the Oliver online catalogue, making it easy to explore more than 20,000 English-language books, including fiction, non-fiction, and an extensive children's collection. Each month, I feature two books from the library in BAMBI Magazine, highlighting just a small sample of the wonderful titles available to borrow.
The Neilson Hays Library is more than a historic building or a place to borrow books. It is where children discover the joy of reading, friendships are formed, and newcomers can find a sense of belonging. It has been that place for my family, just as it has been for countless others over the past 150 years.
Four years later, I often think back to my grandmother's advice about settling into a new place. Our curtains have long been hung, and not only do we have our library cards, we've found a community. What began as a Saturday morning Story Time has grown into friendships, opportunities to serve, and a place my family now considers home. Whether you're looking for your next great read, a welcoming community, or simply a quiet place to pause, I hope you'll discover what my family did—that sometimes a library offers so much more than books.
About the Author
Prepared by Kit Lang (@mskitlang) for Neilson Hays Library, Thailand’s premier English-language library. The library is located in a beautiful historic building with a garden and cafe on site: 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.