"No Future for the Book-Illiterate"... Gyeonggi Provincial Library to Open on the 25th After Nine Years of Preparation

The Gyeonggi Provincial Library will open its doors on October 25, after more than nine years of preparation.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Library distinguishes itself from traditional public libraries by serving as an open platform where residents can learn, create, and experience together, going beyond simply reading books.

This unprecedented library concept reflects the library management philosophy of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon.

Gyeonggi Provincial Library Exterior View

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gyeonggi Provincial Library in October 2022, Governor Kim Dongyeon stated, "I hope the Gyeonggi Provincial Library will serve not just as a place to read books, but as a space where people can read, gain various experiences, and connect their own futures to the future of our society."

The project cost 122.7 billion won, and the library boasts a total floor area of 27,795 square meters, with five floors above ground and four basement levels, making it the largest public library in the country. Basement levels 2 to 4 serve as parking lots, offering two hours of free parking for visitors. From basement level 1 up to the fifth floor above ground, the library is organized into spaces for reading, experiences, exhibitions, and creative activities.

The library's collection consists of a total of 344,216 volumes, including 148,181 physical books and 196,035 e-books.

Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the collection over the next five years to up to 550,000 volumes, including 250,000 physical books and 300,000 e-books.

Each floor from basement level 1 to the fifth floor is themed with one of six keywords: "Creativity, Connection, Inclusion, Wisdom, Sustainability, and Growth."

Basement level 1, which serves as the main entrance, is designated as the "Space of Creativity," where creation and sharing based on artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology take place.

In the "AI Studio," users can produce digital content using eight paid generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, as well as Photoshop. This space is especially useful for residents or creators who have struggled with the high costs of paid AI tools or insufficient computer specifications.

The "AI Reading Debate" room provides a space for reading discussions between humans and AI. After reading a specific book and explaining their opinions to the AI, the AI responds with its own opinions, empathy, and information, enabling interactive debates.

There are also spaces such as the "Book Workshop," where visitors can plan, write, and produce their own books, as well as activity areas for creating and enjoying various content like dance, music, and filming.

The first floor is dedicated to communication and connection, offering a variety of themed spaces.

In line with the concept of a climate library, the first-floor lobby features a collection of environmental books to raise awareness about the climate crisis, along with sculptures and art pieces made from recycled materials.

Gyeonggi Book Road inside Gyeonggi Provincial Library

Literature, the most sought-after genre among library visitors, is conveniently located in the first-floor "Book Lounge." There are also curated selections from local bookstores and a letter corner run by local booksellers to promote collaboration with neighborhood bookstores.

As a space themed around communication, the first floor also offers an area for board games and a youth cafe where visitors can enjoy tea and conversation. The youth cafe is the first in the country to support youth entrepreneurship in a public library, with a startup cafe operated by a business owner in their twenties selected through a public contest.

The second floor is an "Inclusive Space," open to children, teenagers, and multicultural families.

The "World Friends Book Village" provides a diverse selection of books in 22 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Vietnamese, allowing foreign visitors to use the library freely.

New reading services for children are also being introduced, such as a so-called "read-aloud" service where AI learns a family member's voice and reads books to children. For example, if a mother reads a portion of a book, the AI can learn her voice and read the remaining part, or even other books, in her voice. The voices of fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other family members can also be used.

There is also a console game play zone featuring Nintendo, PlayStation, and other systems for the whole family to enjoy. This area operates on a reservation system, allowing two hours per session.

The third and fourth floors serve as the central knowledge and information hub of the Gyeonggi Provincial Library, encompassing materials from all subject areas. More than 2,800 children's and general books selected for the province's lifelong reading project, "Cheongwon-ro," can be comfortably read with family in a camping zone-style setting.

Central spiral staircase planted with Scandiamoss

The third floor houses specialized books on social sciences and history, while the third-and-a-half floor features materials related to peace. The fourth floor offers a wide range of books on all topics in the humanities. Nearby, the Art Book Lounge allows visitors to freely appreciate art books composed of paintings and photographs, fostering artistic inspiration and creativity.

Past the Art Book Lounge, a hill path connects the third and fourth floors. Called the "Gyeonggi Book Road," this path gives the feeling of walking through a forest garden. Alongside the Gyeonggi Book Road, visitors will find books on relationships and coexistence, as well as titles in fields such as youth literature, travel, and the arts, connecting generations. There are also books on K-Food and K-Culture, offering a taste of Korea's global flavor and style.

The fourth floor, themed as a "Sustainable Space," features a variety of books and hands-on experiences related to the climate crisis.

The fifth floor is dedicated to youth and creators. The "Youth Opportunity Studio" provides individual workspaces for young creators in Gyeonggi Province to produce digital content such as media art, webtoons, animation, and web design. The province plans to support creators by offering one-on-one expert feedback on their work.

A special space is also available where children's psychological states can be assessed through drawings, and suitable book recommendations are provided. In the "AI Book Therapy" area, the "AI Mind Drawing X Book" program uses drawing-based psychological analysis to recommend books. Both children and guardians participate: the child draws freely, the AI interprets the drawing and explains the child's psychological state, and then recommends books for both the child and guardian based on the analysis.

From the opening day until the end of this year, the library will operate on a trial basis: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the trial period, the final operating hours will be determined based on residents' feedback.

A membership system will be implemented, with general membership available upon identity verification and provincial membership available with proof of residence.

During the trial period, general members may borrow up to three books at a time for 15 days. Starting next year, members will be able to borrow up to five books at a time, with a seven-day extension option. Book borrowing and returns are handled via kiosks, which are height-adjustable for the convenience of children and people with disabilities.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Library has installed vertical louvers (pillar-like structures resembling fan blades that block sunlight and adjust interior brightness depending on the sun's position) and Scandiamoss (a preserved moss that purifies air, regulates humidity, reduces noise, and breathes with nature) to create an open space where energy saving and carbon reduction are achieved, and residents can experience and share the value of the climate.

Gyeonggi Province has also prepared a variety of opening events. First, on October 23, ahead of the opening, an international conference will be held at Suwon Convention Center to share the latest trends in domestic and international libraries in response to the climate crisis and the AI era.

On the opening day, October 25, at 3 p.m., the opening ceremony titled "People and Books, In Between: Gyeonggi Provincial Library" will be held in basement level 1, followed by a book talk with author Park Wi at 4 p.m. The opening ceremony will also be broadcast live via the Gyeonggi Province YouTube channel.

On the same day, the "Gyeonggi Dadokdadok Festival" will take place at Dodam Garden, featuring an outdoor reading experience event under the theme "Read with All Five Senses!"

Additionally, from October 25 to December 13, an original picture book exhibition titled "Feathers and Moss," focusing on climate and ecology, will be held in the exhibition space on basement level 1.

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