Korat’s B90-million white elephant

Library and observatory adandoned and left to deteriorate for more than a decade

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - The sad state of a library and observatory, built at a cost of 90 million baht but later closed and left to deteriorate for years, has residents of Nakhon Ratchasima questioning the management of government-funded projects.

The Korat Living Library and Nakhon Ratchasima Observatory in Muang district was considered a showpiece project for the northeastern province when it was built by the provincial administrative organisation (Or Bor Jor).

Completed in 2013 on a six-rai plot of land inside the Triam Udom Suksa Nomklao Nakhon Ratchasima School, it was intended to serve as a modern lifelong learning centre equipped with computer systems and electronic media.

The primary reason for its closure was a legal dispute between the provincial administration and the contractor. The province alleged the contractor failed to deliver the project in accordance with the specified terms. The dispute was sent to arbitration and subsequently escalated to the Administrative Court, leaving the project in legal limbo.

A recent inspection found the two-storey library building in visibly deteriorating condition. Media were not permitted to enter the building to document its condition. Metal barriers manned by security personnel prevented access. 

Barriers block the entrance to the Korat Living Library. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)

Residents living nearby said the facilities had been used for a brief time for public activities, particularly the observatory, which hosted schoolchildren and members of the public.

Activities included educational programmes, documentary screenings and other events. The surrounding landscaped grounds were also intended to provide a space for residents to relax, walk and exercise.

The facilities were later closed because of the legal dispute. Residents started noticing damaged lighting and other equipment and questioned why repairs had not been carried out to restore the site for public use.

According to those living in the area, the observatory had previously operated a range of facilities, including a fountain, sound system and indoor activities. 

The Nakhon Ratchasima Observatory. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)

The library, conversely, reportedly saw little use even before it was closed. Equipment and other items once kept inside the building were gradually stolen, leaving much of the facility without the resources needed to operate. 

Residents say restoring the building would now require substantial additional funding. They questioned whether such spending would be worthwhile if the facility remained inaccessible to the public.

They also disputed an earlier explanation that public access had been restricted because the site was adjacent to a school. The school has since installed a perimeter fence, but the library and observatory remain closed.

Local residents point out the deteriorating condition of the Korat Living Library structure. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)

For local residents, the issue is not only the condition of the buildings but also the value of the original investment. They said 90 million baht in public money had been spent to create facilities intended to serve the community, yet residents have been unable to make meaningful use of them.

They said restoring the library could still benefit the community, provided the facility is properly maintained and made genuinely accessible once repairs are completed.

The situation has raised broader questions over the management of publicly funded infrastructure: why a project built with a substantial government budget was allowed to become unusable, and who should bear responsibility for any new expenditure required to restore facilities that have deteriorated after years of limited use.