Koh, who is in her 30s and works in the corporate sector, was inspired by Emma Watson’s “Book Fairies” campaign of 2016, which saw feminist titles hidden in public spaces around the world. She decided to try something similar in Malaysia.
“I grew up reading lots of books. Every weekend, my parents would bring me to the library.
“Nowadays, I feel that’s slowly disappearing. But I believe in its power and I really hope to see more Malaysians reading,” Koh told FMT Lifestyle.
With this in mind, she initially kicked off a fun and creative movement involving “book ninjas” who shared books and passed them along.
“People would place a sticker on a book, hide it in a public space, and post the location online for someone else to find it,” she explained.
From this, “Books on the Move” was born in 2017. This non-profit initiative is dedicated to sharing the joy of reading, reclaiming public spaces, and making books accessible to all.
More than 10,000 free books have since been shared via the movement.
A year in, Koh saw the potential of designated spaces where people could drop off books, exchange them, or just spend time hanging out.
In 2018, armed with a grant from ThinkCity, she set up three mini community libraries at the Ampang Park, KL Sentral, and Pasar Seni train stations. These almost art-installation-like libraries quickly became beloved fixtures of the urban commute.
“It helped exposed books to a mass audience. We caught the attention of people who wouldn’t usually read,” she said.
“I even received feedback from some who couldn’t afford books and wouldn’t have had access to them otherwise. That really touched me.”
Each of these spaces comes with clearly displayed instructions: “If you wish to take a book, please leave a book to help ensure this library won’t run out of books.”
Once, someone found a book Koh had left near a coffee kiosk and left behind a note saying: “Thank you for doing this.”
“It goes back to the whole idea of bridging human connection through books,” Koh added.
It wasn’t long before her initiative was noticed by the managements of shopping malls, who were eager to come on board.
Today, Koh’s community libraries can be found across the Klang Valley, including at LINC and KL Gateway Mall, each of which houses over 500 books at any given time.
They have even popped up in cafés and local businesses such as Stickerrific at Jaya One in Petaling Jaya, and the Bendahari Markets in Melaka.
Notably, the project also embraces sustainability not just by reusing books but by using upcycled materials to design the libraries.
Plus, Koh is impressed by the diversity of the collection at these various points, from vintage classics to local indie authors.
“It’s so amazing that at different locations, you see different books. You get to know more about the culture of a neighbourhood by the books people leave behind.”
She stressed, however, that these libraries aren’t meant to be dumping grounds for unwanted books; rather, they are a way to share books you truly love.
With the help of a small team of volunteers, Koh keeps the movement going, driven by the goal of seeing more Malaysians with a book in hand.
Sometimes, she steps back and observes the scene quietly: students in uniform, tourists with backpacks, locals from all walks of life – all thumbing through the same shelf of donated books.
“I have a broader vision to create places of interest in the city, as I’ve always believed in living in a city with character. This is one of the many ideas to reclaim our public spaces,” she concluded.
Learn more about Books on the Move here.