If you are keeping up with our Dokuma Park spotlight posts, you have already read about the Forest Library and the Cemil Meriç Library. Just down the way from both of these book-lover havens is a space designed just for little people: the Children’s Train Library. It is called a Train Library because it was originally all inside of a Turkish State Railways passenger car. Since its opening in 2018, it has been expanded to include a “train station” next to where the authentic Turkish State Railways engine and passenger car have found their permanent dwelling.
What does it offer?
This quiet library is little, but colorful and inviting. Inside you will find bright colored tables with kid-sized chairs and shelves of Turkish children’s books. From board books to young teen’s chapter books, the collection is small, but diverse.
Out the back door of the train station library, you will find the original train library passenger car and newly added engine. According to Hakan Tütüncü, the mayor of Kepez, the train library was intended to be a colorful place where children can fall in love with reading. Designed with kids in mind, the passenger car is now filled with tables and space for educational and interactive workshops.
Insider Tips
- We were there on a weekday and there was hardly anyone there. Weekends will probably be a lot busier. The space is not huge, so go during the week if you want optimal access to all the books.
- There are librarians. We heard them asking the one other family in the library to be more quiet, so don’t expect to let your kids make too much noise.
- Books cannot be checked out and are only for reading in the library.
- If you are trying to learn Turkish, or teach your kids, this could be a great place to find easy to read books.
Getting There
Dokuma Park is easy to find by personal car between Erasta Mall and Özdilek Mall. There is a large parking lot on the west side that gives you easy entrance to the park. Enter on the west side and go left then straight to find the train library.
If you want to take public transportation, the Fatih-Expo or Havalamanı tram goes right by the east side of the park. Get off at the Dokuma stop and follow the signs toward the Tren Kütüphanesi once you enter the park.
Address: Fabrikalar Mahallesi, Namık Kemal Bulvarı, Dokumapark No:41/15, 07090 Kepez/Antalya, Turkey
Opening hours: Seven days a week, 10:00am – 6:00pm
Entrance fee: Free