Author Information
Kaimuk Laosunthara, Prasarnmit Demonstration School (Secondary), ThailandAmpan Laosunthara, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Following the March 28, 2025, magnitude 7.7 earthquake centered in Myanmar—which triggered long-period ground motion (LPGM) and serious disruption in Bangkok—this study explores how a Thai middle school library responded educationally to the event. It presents a case where the library served as a pilot site for youth-centered disaster learning during and after the 15th Pre-Book Fair (April–July 2025). The library launched a three-part program titled “Survive and Be Safe from Disasters,” focusing on earthquake and tsunami awareness. With support from disaster experts, librarians co-designed hands-on activities such as evacuation drills and tsunami simulations using virtual reality (VR). Students also joined risk mapping using colored Post-it notes to mark safe and hazardous zones inside the library. A key element was storytelling, where students shared personal experiences of the March 28 earthquake. Accounts—from confusion in high-rises to chaotic evacuations—offered insight into how youth perceive and react to disaster risk. Their stories highlighted gaps in disaster education and increased awareness of local vulnerabilities. This paper argues that middle school libraries could serve as decentralized disaster risk reduction (DRR) nodes. By curating local knowledge, enabling experiential learning, and fostering civic dialogue, libraries can become active players in community-based DRR. Rather than passive information holders, school libraries should be integrated into national DRR education strategies. We advocate for recognizing school librarianship within disaster governance and propose a model for embedding libraries into DRR planning through outreach, learning design, and collaboration.
Paper Information
Conference: ACE2025Stream: Knowledge Creation
This paper is part of the ACE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Laosunthara K., & Laosunthara A. (2026) Middle School Libraries as Active Agents of Risk Awareness: Post-disaster Knowledge Curation and Public Engagement in Thailand ISSN: 2186-5892 – The Asian Conference on Education 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 87-91) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-5892.2026.8
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-5892.2026.8
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