Operation of Geumcheon-gu 365 Smart Library

Installation of Smart Libraries at Geumcheon-gu Office Station and Doksan Station... About 500 Various New Releases and Bestsellers Available... Any Regular Member of Geumcheon-gu Library Can Borrow 2 Books for 14 Days

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) has installed the ‘Geumcheon-gu 365 Smart Library’ at Geumcheon-gu Office Station and Doksan Station to allow residents to safely and comfortably enjoy reading during the COVID-19 situation, and will officially operate it from February 1.

The smart library is an unmanned library or book vending machine equipped with books inside a smart device, where users can borrow and return books by recognizing their membership cards.

The ‘Geumcheon-gu 365 Smart Library’ houses about 500 various new releases and bestsellers. Reflecting residents’ requests for desired books, approximately 100 books will be replaced quarterly.

Any regular member of the Geumcheon-gu Public Library who has been issued a Geumcheon-gu Public Library membership card, a mobile membership card of Geumcheon-gu Public Library, or a Seoul Citizen Card app membership card can borrow books. Each person can borrow up to two books for 14 days. However, books borrowed from a smart library must be returned to the same smart library where they were borrowed.

Users select books on the touchscreen, and when the membership card is recognized, the book is dispensed like a vending machine through the slot. For returns, select book return, recognize the book, and insert it into the slot.

The district installed the smart library, which can operate 24 hours, focusing on the frequent closures of libraries due to COVID-19 and the increasing demand for non-face-to-face book lending.

The Geumcheon-gu 365 Smart Library is located in front of Geumcheon-gu Office Station and next to the ‘Chaegideun Street Small Library’ at Exit 2 of Doksan Station. The district plans to install one more location this year.

Meanwhile, last year, the district promoted remodeling projects for four public and small libraries, built the ‘Chaekdalsaem Forest Small Library,’ and installed the ‘Dreaming Small Library,’ strengthening infrastructure to create a better reading environment.

Also, to satisfy residents’ reading needs during the COVID-19 situation, the district provides a non-face-to-face safe book reservation and lending service, conducts reading culture programs online, and pursues various policies to spread a culture of reading.

Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “Reading is the driving force that awakens residents’ daily lives and broadens their world,” adding, “To spread a culture of reading in the region, we will promote policies to revitalize reading culture so that residents can enjoy reading happily through infrastructure development as well as various reading culture programs.”

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