KUALA LUMPUR: u-Pustaka, a digital library service by Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM) has seen an increased pick-up rate among Malaysians since it was launched in 2011, especially this year, during the restrictive movement period.
Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said up until Oct 31, 515,477 Malaysians have registered as e-Pustaka members.
She said as of Oct 2020, 13.2 million digital content materials, including e-books, e-journals, newspaper articles, e-Journals and e-learning tools can be found at the u-Pustaka.
"PNM, through the u-Pustaka project, has thus far digitalised 1.7 million pages of local content, including Malay manuscripts, collections, and local newspapers beginning from the launch of the project in 2018 until Dec 2019," she said in a statement.
The u-Pustaka service helps support life-long learning and improve social and economic development by providing electronic materials, especially during the current unstable economic situation.
Motac and PNM hope the service would allow for easier distribution and transmission of information among the public, as well as support the National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative.
u-Pustaka can be accessed for free at any time via www.u-pustaka.gov.my.