Gwangju Seo-gu 'Smart Library' Opens... Open 24 Hours, 365 Days a Year

Published 16 Oct.2023 15:57(KST)

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 16th the opening of the 'Smart Library Branch 6,' an unmanned book lending and return system, at the Seo-gu Youth Dream Nuri Center.

Opening ceremony of Smart Library Branch No. 6. <br>[Photo by Seogu]

Opening ceremony of Smart Library Branch No. 6.
[Photo by Seogu]

This project was promoted through the 2023 U-Library System Construction Support Contest hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Users can borrow and return books by themselves at any desired time, with a limit of 3 books per person for a loan period of 15 days.

The Smart Library is stocked with about 400 books, including new releases and bestsellers, and Seo-gu plans to replace the books twice a year regularly.

Book lending is available to any registered member who has signed up on the Seo-gu Integrated Library website, and available books can be searched on the Seo-gu Integrated Library website.

Through the Smart Library, users can also use the book delivery service to borrow or return books from public libraries (Sangnok Library, Children's Ecology Learning Library, Seobitmaru Library, Seo-gu Public Library).

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, said, "We hope that young people will get closer to books and develop self-directed reading habits," adding, "We hope it will be used as a reading space full of the scent of books that communicates with many Seo-gu residents, not just youth."

Meanwhile, Seo-gu has established a total of six Smart Libraries: ▲ Branch 1 (Exit 4 of Sangmu Station) ▲ Branch 2 (1st floor of Seo-gu Office) ▲ Branch 3 (Basement 1 of Uncheon Station) ▲ Branch 4 (Entrance of Pungam-dong Administrative Welfare Center) ▲ Branch 5 (Narakium Gwangju Integrated Government Building), and last year, 10,216 residents borrowed 7,793 books.