Financial Learning Source
Besides being one of Thailand’s (BOT) most integrated and comprehensive economic data center, the BOT is also an abundant source of information on finance and banking that collects complete series of data and information on Thailand’s economic policy implementation as well as those of other central banks. These resourceful data and information have been used mainly by BOT’s staffs to back policy decision but the BOT aims to encourage the public and external parties to utilize more of these resources for study and research purposes.
With solid economic database and consistent development of database management system, the BOT possesses great potential to become the country’s leading financial learning source. The BOT’s Library and Archives has been assigned by the government to act as Thailand’s Economic Information Network Center, the national center for collecting, sharing, and exchanging information resources in the economics fields among 13 major libraries nationwide.
As a major financial learning source, the BOT provides three main services as follow:
1. The Library is opened for any interested person to study and seek information in the field of economics, finance, and banking. The library offers a wide range of materials including statistics relevant to macroeconomic policy decision and implementation, financial institutions, as well as research papers conducted by the BOT’s staffs. It also provides economics and finance knowledge in the forms of books, multimedia, newspapers, publications by the BOT and other global central banks, publications by international economic and finance agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Moreover, the BOT’s library also offers inter-library book loan service (only with contracted libraries).
Down the road, the BOT’s library aims to be regional economics information hub, linking financial and economics information with central banks in Southeast Asia. It also plans to expand electronics library service, currently in the initial stage that provides E-journal only to BOT’s staffs, and eventually covers external members as well.
The library opens Monday-Friday between 8.30 am. - 4.30 pm. and closes on Saturday-Sunday and bank holidays. For more information about library services, please contact Tel: 0-2283-5693 or e-Mail: LibraryService@bot.or.th
2. Archives Services The BOT permanently stores valuable documents for reference and citation purposes at the Archives. Examples of documents kept at Archives are:
- Manuscripts or informative documents hand-written and typed such as correspondence, memo, meeting minutes, reports, speech etc.
- Audio-visual documents such as cassettes, pictures, slides, posters, postcards, videotape etc.
- Graphs and charts such as plans, blue prints etc.
- Documents recorded with computer technology.
External researchers can also use the archives services, simply by submitting request for permission to the Library, Archives, and Museum director. This requirement is aimed to allow archives staffs to prepare demanded documents in advance. All materials in the archives can only be used within designated area and are not allowed to be checked out of the archives.
The Archives opens Monday-Friday between 8.30 am. - 4.30 pm. and closes on Saturday-Sunday and bank holidays. For more information about archives services, please contact Tel: 0-2356-7541, 0-2283-5699, 0-2283-5689, and 0-2356-7557 or e-mail: archives@bot.or.th
Besides the library and archives that located at the BOT headquarters in Bangkok, interested parties are also welcome to use the BOT’s libraries at three regional offices including the Northern office, the Northeastern office, and the Southern office.
3. Money museum is the source of knowledge on financial history that aims to build comprehensive understanding in current roles and responsibilities of the Bank of Thailand as well as create confidence in monetary policy implementation for the purpose of maintaining stability in the financial system, financial institution system, and the financial markets.
Beyond simple knowledge about evolution of Thai money, history of the premise, and biography of people relevant to the Bank of Thailand, the Money Museum conceptually targets to create clear understanding of various mechanisms that work in harmony to drive the economy such as interest rate, exchange rate, financial institutions, real sector, international trade, and international capital flows.
The Museum keeps the exhibition style up to date, employing new techniques and technology such as the diorama technique, computer graphics, and multimedia to draw attention of visitors. The museum also provides Audio Guide system, modern equipment that enables visitors to choose audio information about particular specimens or topics of their interests.
The Money Museum is currently exhibited on the Main Bang Khunprom Mansion, former residence of Prince Boribhat Sukhumbhandi, a son of His Majesty the King Rama V. The Main Mansion stands proudly in its unique elegance ornamented by delicate stucco designs considered to be one of the most beautiful in Thailand. The stucco designs borrow from various western periods and styles and yet blend harmoniously with the architectural character.
Besides the Main Bangkhunprom Mansion, the premise of the BOT’s headquarters also situates the Devavesm Palace, former residence of Prince Devawongvarophakarn, a younger brother of King Rama V. The Main Mansion stands stylishly in its neo-classic splendor incorporating Greek and Roman architecture to ornament its appearance. The main mansion displays the life story and works of His Royal Highness Prince Devawongse Varopakarn, recognized as the Father of foreign affairs in Thailand who was also the head of the Ministers Council and the second most important figure in the government next to King Rama V and VI. The mansion also holds exhibition on the architect and restoration of the Devavesm Palace.
The BOT’s museums open for public visit free of charge
- Monday-Tuesday is for individual visits during 9.00 am. -12.00 am. และ 1 pm. – 4 pm. except on bank holidays.
- Wednesday-Friday is for group visits, which require advance booking and request letter address to Library, Archives, and Museum director.
For more information about the museums, please contact Tel: 0-2283-5286, 0-2283-6723, 0-2283-6152, 0-2356-7702, and 0-2283-5265 or e-mail: Museum@bot.or.th