The Neilson Hays Library has its origins in early Bangkok in the latter half of the 1800s, when Silom was referred to as Windmill Road. It was 1869, a year into the reign of King Rama V.

In that year, the Ladies Bazaar Association in Bangkok, a charitable organization founded in 1866, raised funds for a library to cater for the reading needs of the increasing English speaking community residing in Bangkok.

Back then, it wasn't called the Neilson Hays Library but the Bangkok Ladies Library Association.

For a start, the books for the fledgling library were stored in a private residence. Later the Protestant Union Chapel in Charoen Krung Road took over this responsibility until 1900. (The Protestant Union Chapel later became Christ Church in Convent Road.) For the next 14 years the library was housed in temporary premises.

In 1881, Jennie Neilson, the lady who was to have considerable influence on the library and the present building, arrived in Thailand as part of the Protestant Mission. Jennie Neilson married Dr Thomas Heyward Hays, Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Hospital in 1887 and they moved to Bangkok.

From 1900 she was actively involved in the Bangkok Ladies Library Association for the next 20 years raising funds through annual bazaars to supplement the subscriptions.

The name of the library was changed to Bangkok Library Association in October 1911. In 1914, the association decided to buy a plot of land in Surawongse Road for a permanent home for the library to reduce the strain of rent.

One of the older roads in Bangkok, Surawongse Road was built in 1897 by the excavation of a canal which has since been covered for road expansion. Named after Chao Phraya Surawongse Wattanasak, Surawongse Road was a popular residential area in early Bangkok.

Jennie Neilson was President of Bangkok Library Association from 1914 till 1920 when she died of cholera. Dr Heyward Hays commissioned Mario Tamagno, an Italian architect, to design a building in memory of his wife Jennie.

Tamagno, like Annibale Rigotti, hailed from Turin the city renowned for its School of Architecture. The Italian duo was responsible for the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall in 1907.

The other Bangkok landmarks by Tamagno are

• Suan Kularb Residential Hall and Throne Hall in Dusit Garden
• Hua Lampong Railway Station in 1910.

The new building for the library in Surawongse Road was opened on 26 June 1922 and named the Neilson Hays Library.

What piece of Italian architecture would be complete without the characteristic dome? Tamagno designed a rotunda as the grand entrance to the main building. This entrance is no longer in use and the rotunda serves as a gallery for art exhibitions today.

The stone inscription in memory of Jennie Neilson Hayes high up on the wall of the Rotunda Gallery is flanked by old photos of Jennie and Dr T Heyward Hays.

Originally set up to cater for the recreational reading of the foreign community in Bangkok, today the Neilson Hays Library caters to a substantial local reading population, particularly children.

Activities are conducted to encourage reading habits among children and a section of the library is dedicated to the Children's Corner. In addition, art exhibitions and meet the author sessions are also organized.

The new Caf Gallery has recently been completed though the interior dcor and fittings have yet to be finalized. The white single-story building, just beyond the shady courtyard, includes a caf and exhibition room with a bright and airy atmosphere.

In June 2006, the Neilson Hays Library commemorated its 84th anniversary. The tradition of volunteers staffing the library continues to this day. The spirit of Jennie Neilson Hays and her fellow members of the Bangkok Library Association live on in the Neilson Hays Library.

To get there, please see the map to the Neilson Hays Library.