Gyeongsang National University Holds Opening Ceremony for Central Library Remodeling

A Total of 18.7 Billion KRW Invested to Implement Smart Libraries

Gyeongsang National University completed the expansion and renovation of its Central Library, the cradle of academic research and learning, and held the ‘Central Library Remodeling Opening Ceremony’ at the Gajwa Campus Central Library on the 23rd.

About 100 university library officials from across the country and around 200 members of the Gyeongsang National University community attended the event.

Gyeongsang National University Central Library Opening Ceremony.

The Gyeongsang National University Central Library was newly built and opened in 1985 at the center of the Gajwa Campus, the most accessible location, beginning its role as the heart of the university. At the time of its opening, it was the largest university library in Korea. Nearly 40 years have passed, and the building became worn out with insufficient space to accommodate the increasing number of collections. Although partial remodeling had been done over time, it was insufficient to meet students’ demands.

The necessity for expansion and renovation of the library was recognized by students, the library, and the university administration. Through multifaceted efforts, construction began in June 2021, and over approximately two years and three months, a total budget of 18.7 billion KRW was invested, including 16.4 billion KRW for expansion and renovation and 2.3 billion KRW for user-customized space configuration.

Gyeongsang National University redesigned the Central Library to meet the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era by opening the 1st to 3rd floors as 24/7 reading and complex cultural rest spaces, satisfying diverse user reading demands. To create user-centered spaces, a contest for space concepts and names was held among members. As a result, the new slogan “Gyeongirably Stretching Pioneer Tree” was chosen, symbolizing the library as an infinitely growing organism. The 1st floor represents the roots of the Pioneer Tree, named ‘Root Shelter,’ followed by the 2nd floor ‘Communication Stem,’ 3rd floor ‘Contemplation Leaf,’ 4th and 5th floors ‘Knowledge Fruit,’ and 6th floor ‘Wisdom Garden,’ with each floor assigned a distinct color.

President Kwon Soon-gi said, “Our university promoted the remodeling of the Central Library to proactively respond to attracting excellent students nationwide, preventing student dropout, and improving employment rates. I congratulate the birth of a user-centered complex cultural space as a result. I hope that professors and students will devote themselves to research and study at the Central Library and become the best researchers and talents in Korea. Based on this, I hope Gyeongsang National University will develop into the world’s top prestigious university. I am confident that the library will become the ‘Gyeongirably Stretching Pioneer Tree’ at the center of this development.”

Director Moon Seon-ok stated, “By completing the remodeling project reflecting the diverse and unique reading demands of the MZ generation based on the latest IT technology, we have strengthened the learning and research competitiveness of a national flagship university.”

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