Hajua Gwangju Nam-gu Council Member Proposes 'Public Study Cafe-Style Library'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Ha Jua, a member of the Nam-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, proposed on the 7th a 'public study cafe-type pure reading library' where teenagers can study together and socialize.

Ha stated this during a 5-minute free speech at the 279th 1st plenary session held that day.

First, she requested that the existing building of the Bongseon 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center, which will be newly constructed and relocated in February next year, be remodeled into the 'No. 1 public study cafe-type pure reading library.'

She emphasized the need to review whether the ratio of spaces such as pure reading rooms, reference rooms, and bibliographic information rooms in libraries operated by Nam-gu is appropriate, and to secure more spaces where teenagers can study for free.

Furthermore, she suggested improving the total 72 small libraries in each dong of Nam-gu into 'study cafe-type' spaces where students can do school or academy homework.

According to Councilor Ha, excluding the Sajik Library operated by Gwangju City, Nam-gu has Bongseon 2-dong Cultural Information Library, Jinwol-dong Pureungil Library, and the Youth Library next to the former Nam-gu Office site. There are only four libraries including the Hyochon Library, which will be established in the Hyochon district in 2022.

Among these four libraries, the Youth Library and Hyochon Library do not have pure reading rooms where teenagers can sit and study at all. The Cultural Information Library has 136 seats, and the Pureungil Library has 20 seats.

Given this situation, teenagers have no choice but to study at 'private study cafes' that are mainly appearing in neighborhoods, paying a usage fee of up to 2,000 won per hour.

Councilor Ha said, "These days, there is a severe shortage of libraries where teenagers can study and play comfortably," and urged, "Since Nam-gu is known as a 'cultural education special zone' and a 'good place for education,' please make Nam-gu a place where studying is easy."

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