Receiving Books from My Car... Seongdong-gu 'Drive-Thru Book Rental Service'

Encouraging Reading Culture through COVID-19 'Psychological Quarantine' Including Free Delivery Service Implementation

A resident who applied for the 'Drive-Through Book Loan Service' is receiving a book in their car.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) is implementing a ‘Drive-Thru Book Loan Service’ where residents can receive pre-requested books the next day while passing by the library parking lot entrance without leaving their cars.

The district views ‘reading’ as the best form of ‘psychological quarantine’ to build mental strength and immunity to overcome residents’ anxiety and sense of loss caused by COVID-19, and has strengthened ‘contactless loan services’ to promote a reading culture.

First, to resolve difficulties in borrowing books due to the prolonged temporary closure of public libraries, Seongdong-gu Public Library will operate the ‘Drive-Thru Book Loan Service’ from the 10th to the 22nd.

This service minimizes face-to-face contact between library staff and users due to COVID-19 by allowing users to receive pre-requested books directly at the library parking lot without getting out of their cars, similar to buying coffee.

Applications can be made by phone to Seongdong-gu Public Library (main number 2204-6440).

Application hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each household can borrow up to 5 books per week.

Books requested between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. can be picked up the same day, while books requested in the afternoon and those held by other libraries (including Kumho Library and four others) can be picked up the next day.

Pickup times are divided into two sessions: 1st session (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and 2nd session (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and users should collect their books during the designated session.

This loan service is a special service conducted during the temporary closure period and can be used regardless of the number of books currently borrowed.

The district also offers a ‘Free Book Delivery Service’ where users can receive books at home. By applying via phone, up to 5 books per household can be delivered daily to the first 30 applicants. Returns can be made using the unmanned return box in front of the library entrance or directly at the reading room when the library reopens.

A district official stated, “All loaned books are disinfected using a book sterilizer and separately packaged before being handed out. Regular sterilization is also conducted on the collection, so residents can borrow books without worry.”

Additionally, Seongdong-gu Public Library has increased the loan limit at unmanned smart libraries (located at Oksu Station, Sangwangsimni Station, and Kumho Station) from 2 to 3 books and is expanding contactless loan services by purchasing additional digital library e-books to satisfy residents’ reading needs.

For detailed information, please visit the Seongdong-gu Library website (www.sdlib.or.kr/SD).

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Residents are going through difficult times due to COVID-19. I hope many people actively use this contactless book loan service during the temporary library closure and find healing through reading.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.