Jeonju-si Songcheon and Geumam Libraries Renovated as 'Book Playground'

Published 22 Mar.2022 15:55(KST)

Completion of Open Creative Library Project and Reopening as 'Chaeknori Playground' on the 22nd

Jeonju-si Songcheon and Geumam Libraries Renovated as 'Book Playground'

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Jeonju City’s Songcheon Library and Geumam Library have been newly transformed into ‘book playgrounds.’

On the 22nd, Jeonju City completed the open creative library project and held a relay reopening ceremony at the transformed Songcheon and Geumam Libraries, attended by Jeonju Mayor Kim Seung-su, Jeonju City Council Chairman Kang Dong-hwa, private library operation committee members, representatives of local self-governing organizations, and residents.

Previously, Geumam and Songcheon Libraries had a quiet reading room atmosphere composed of archive rooms and reading rooms, but they have been reborn as open creative libraries with a connected and open structure so that citizens, including children, can freely use the libraries.

In the case of Songcheon Library, it has transformed into a complex cultural space where the whole family can enjoy the spacious area in various ways.

The first floor of the library is arranged like a forest with books and wooden bookshelves in a wide space, designed as a place where visitors can enjoy book play like camping and foster creativity. The second floor features a long series of continuous arch bookshelves with an open middle, giving users the feeling of passing through a long door of books and wandering between books.

Additionally, on the third floor, a Smart K-Library (media creation space) equipped with media facilities and soundproofing has been established, where various programs such as creator training encouraging citizens’ video creation and digital learning centers will be operated.

Meanwhile, Geumam Library, which boasts the longest history among Jeonju’s public libraries, is characterized by boldly opening the central spaces between the first and second floors and the rooftop under the concept of ‘breaking down the boundaries between books and space.’

The library’s second-floor ceiling is raised as high as possible, creating a spacious interior structure with high ceilings and a unique sense of space. Taking advantage of its geographical feature located on high ground, rest areas leading outside are provided on the second-floor general materials room and the rooftop, serving as observatories where visitors can overlook downtown Jeonju at a glance.

Prior to this, Jeonju City reopened the Peace Library and Samcheon Library as open creative libraries in 2019 and last year, respectively.

Jeonju City plans to continue transforming all remaining public libraries, including Inhu Library, which is currently under construction as an open creative library, into book playgrounds in line with the vision of ‘Jeonju, the city where books become life.’

Jeonju Mayor Kim Seung-su emphasized, “Libraries are not simply spaces for reading books but places where our children can run and play with books while nurturing their dreams, and spaces that are central to citizens’ lives. Through libraries, we will strive to create a city where life changes through books and life becomes books again, and a humanities tourism city loved not only by citizens but also by travelers through library journeys.”