The Japanese even have a term to describe this peculiar behaviour: “tsundoku”, which is the habit of buying books and never reading them.
Such is the curse that comes with being a reader – there are an infinite number of great books out there, yet there’s only so much time on one’s hand to dedicate to reading.
Fortunately, there are pre-loved bookstores like ‘Books for a Better World’ where one can donate old books.
Co-founded in June this year by Adrian Ung, the main aim is to promote the reading habit among Malaysians while at the same time contributing to charity.
“Most of the books at the store are bought from The Salvation Army Malaysia, and a part of the sales proceeds go back to them,” said the 52-year-old, adding that he only wishes to sell enough books to cover operational costs.
An avid reader himself, he first began selling his old books online 10 years ago. “I started running out of space to store my books; my wife started nagging, so I had to get rid of them,” he said, laughing.
Located in pre-loved goods haven, Amcorp Mall, one can find books across genres at the store, from novels, autobiographies and children’s books to those on leadership and management. There is also a small section dedicated to new local books.
The majority of the pre-loved books here cost only RM5, with a handful priced at RM10.
Since the bookstore is partly a charity, there are no hired staff, only a few volunteers who help out during the day.
However, from 4.30pm to 10.00pm daily, the bookstore operates one a self-service basis. This means customers leave the cash for their purchases in a designated area in the bookstore or pay via QR code.
“Some have doubted if we could implement this concept in Malaysia, and we were a little worried in the beginning. But we want to promote trust within the community, and so far, people have been honest – they paid for the books they took,” he shared, adding that they do have a few CCTVs in the store.
From time to time, they also give away free books, especially children’s books. “We want to encourage parents to try to get their kids to read,” he explained.
Unsurprisingly, given the spirit of the store, many donate their old books. Others donate the books they earlier purchased from the store once they’ve read them.
“It goes in a circle; they treat it as a rental, as our prices are very low,” he said, adding that people are welcome to donate all kinds of reading materials, including magazines.
The reception so far has been encouraging, and they’ve had customers from all walks of life, including book dealers, students and parents.
Then there are those who buy stacks of Mills & Boon, The Hardy Boys and Enid Blyton books as these remind them of the good old days.
“One person even said that she was going to pass them to her grandchildren,” he shared, adding that the Harry Potter series is their bestseller.
Besides wishing to open more branches in the Klang Valley, Ung wants to create small reading corners in shopping malls, although he admitted this has been a challenge. “Most of them want to charge rent, even though it’s a community service,” he lamented.
Although many have urged him to increase the prices of the books, Ung has resisted. “Profit was never the main goal; if the store can run by itself, then it’s good enough,” he said.
Ultimately, Books for a Better World lives up to its name, as it has brought much joy to book lovers, while giving back to the community at the same time.
So, if you find yourself at Amcorp Mall, do pop in. Better still, declutter your home by donating your old books while sharing the love of reading with others.
Check out ‘Books for a Better World’ on their website, Facebook or Instagram.
Books for a Better World
G-043 Amcorp Mall
18, Jalan Persiaran Barat
46200 Petaling Jaya
Business Hours: 10am- 10pm (daily)