Gwangyang-si Launches 'Book Reading Cultural Volunteer Group'

From June, Silver Volunteers Will Visit Reading-Disadvantaged Groups to Promote Reading Activities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Jeonnam Gwangyang Hope Library announced on the 23rd that the ‘2022 Book Reading Cultural Volunteer Group,’ which practices communication and sharing through books, held its inauguration ceremony and has started anew.

The ‘Book Reading Cultural Volunteer Group’ consists of prospective silver and silver generation individuals aged 50 and above who serve as cultural welfare talent donors, visiting socially vulnerable groups in need of care to read books as a volunteer reading activity.

This project is hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency, which recruited local organizers for 10 institutions nationwide. Gwangyang Hope Library was the only institution selected in Jeollanam-do.

Since the 16th, Hope Library has been selecting 20 cultural volunteer activists aged 50 and above from Gwangyang citizens and is conducting training. The training is a specialized course on reading books aloud and book play, held 12 times in total until August.

The activists will be divided into teams of two and will visit 20 institutions (10 local children’s centers, 8 senior centers, 2 disability centers) 12 times each from June to the end of October.

Upon visiting the institutions, the activists will select books suitable for the target groups such as children, seniors, and people with disabilities, read them aloud, and then conduct various post-reading activities linked to the books, such as drawing and crafting, to enhance participants’ satisfaction.

Kim Mira, Director of Library Operations, said, “We express our gratitude to the local elders who showed interest in talent donation and volunteer activities and applied as activists for the ‘2022 Book Reading Cultural Volunteer Group.’”

She added, “Through volunteering with books, activists will have opportunities to communicate with society and gain new learning experiences, while socially isolated readers will enjoy reading, creating a valuable opportunity to spread reading culture.”

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

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