Establishment of 7 Smart Libraries Including Gangnam District Office and Suseo Station

Published 04 Feb.2020 06:22(KST)

Increased Accessibility at Government Offices, Community Centers, and Subway Stations... New Books, Bestsellers Loan, and Interlibrary Loan Services

Gangnam-gu Office Lobby Library

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) has secured a total of seven smart libraries by adding five more in locations with high accessibility such as the district office building, community centers, and subway stations on the 2nd, to assist residents who find it difficult to visit libraries.

The smart libraries, which operate year-round as unmanned book lending and return machines, offer services for borrowing new releases and bestsellers.

Additionally, through interlibrary loan services, residents can freely borrow books held at 11 district-run libraries.

After the pilot installation of smart libraries at the district office building and Suseo Station in January last year received positive feedback, additional installations were made at Nonhyeon 1-dong, Samsung 2-dong, and Irwon 2-dong community centers, as well as Gangnam-gu Office Station and Cheongdam Station.

By last month, over 3,000 people had borrowed more than 6,200 books through the smart libraries.

Anyone can use the smart libraries after registering as a member of the district-run libraries and receiving a card. Through the website (library.gangnam.go.kr), users can search for books available at each smart library or apply for interlibrary loan services.

Kim Yong-man, Director of the Culture and Sports Division, stated, “This year marks the foundation year for ‘Smart City Gangnam.’ We will continue the atmosphere of ‘Reading Gangnam’ by adding two more smart libraries by the end of the year and expand cultural enjoyment opportunities for residents.”