Gwangyang-si, 'Today is Library Day' Gains Popularity

Operation of Library Visit Program for 14 Elementary Schools

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] The Gwangyang Hope Library in Jeonnam is receiving great responses from elementary school children in the region for its program “Today is Library Day,” which is promoted in collaboration with the Gwangyang Office of Education to improve local children’s reading skills and increase access to the library.

Considering the annual academic schedule, the Hope Library accepted applications last December for participation in the “Today is Library Day” program targeting 3rd-grade elementary school students in Gwangyang City.

As a result of recruiting schools wishing to participate, 14 schools (875 students) applied, and the registration was closed early due to the strong interest from local elementary schools.

The program consists of “Library is My Friend,” aimed at enhancing children’s information search skills and reading interest, and “Meeting with the Author,” featuring picture book authors. It has been operating daily from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. over a total of 34 sessions from September 27 to November 12.

All classes are conducted in small groups of one class per day (within 20 to 30 students), and are safely operated in compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines such as temperature checks, mask-wearing, and hand sanitization.

Children visiting the Hope Library learn library etiquette and usage methods from librarians in the “Library is My Friend” class, then tour the reference room and participate in the information search game “Hope Bingo Game,” spending time encountering various books.

Afterwards, they visit the “Kyung Hye-won Author’s Room” exhibition in the Kkumssak Gallery, which is currently displaying dinosaur picture books, where they view drawings and collections personally created by the author, and participate in various experiential programs such as raising dinosaur eggs or becoming a dinosaur themselves.

The “Meeting with the Author” class, featuring famous domestic picture book authors, will see seven authors including Jang Hyun-jung, Gwak Min-su, Kim Ri-ra, Nanju, Miwoo, Yoo Jin, and Choi Deok-gyu visiting the Hope Library in sequence.

Jang Hyun-jung, who operated the first program for five days starting September 27 with students from Gwangyang Jungma Elementary School, performed a one-person play expressing the picture book 「Maem」 through gestures, followed by a lecture on the picture book production process and a hands-on experience making personalized musical instruments, gifting the children a special time with the author.

Kim Hyun-sook, team leader of the Hope Library, said, “We planned the library visit program because we believe that becoming familiar with the library is the first step to habituating reading from an early age,” and added, “Since the participating children’s satisfaction is high, we plan to expand the program further next year in consultation with the Office of Education.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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