Return Overdue Books, Attend Lectures, and Enjoy Activities... Gwangju Municipal Library Offers Abundant 'Month of Books' Programs

Events at Mudeung, Sajik, Sansu, and Hanam Libraries for Library Week and World Book Day
Applications open from the 24th; Author lectures, exhibitions, and hands-on programs run throughout the month

To celebrate 'Library Week' in April and 'World Book Day,' the Gwangju Municipal Library will host a variety of reading culture programs throughout the month, including author lectures, hands-on activities, and exhibitions, and is accepting citizen participation applications. To lower barriers to library use, an event will also be held where returning overdue books will lift borrowing suspensions.

Citizens are reading books at the General Reference Room on the 3rd floor of Hanam Public Library, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Bohyun Song

The Gwangju Metropolitan City Municipal Library (Mudeung, Sajik, Sansu, Hanam) announced it will organize various reading culture events for 'Library Week' (April 12-18) and 'World Book Day' (April 23), and will begin accepting applications for participation starting on the 24th.

April 12 is 'Library Day' designated by the government each year, and April 23 is 'World Book Day' established by UNESCO in 1995. Every year, libraries across the nation set April 12-18 as 'Library Week,' during which they operate author lectures, hands-on activities, and reading programs.

The municipal libraries will hold an event to encourage library use by lifting borrowing suspensions if overdue books are fully returned. Each library will also feature meetings with authors, hands-on activities, and exhibition programs.

Mudeung Library will host five events, including:

- "Big Picture Book, Small Keyring" Shrinkles craft experience linked to picture books (April 12)

- An invited lecture by author Kim Kyeonghee, "Positivity and Courage in Picture Books" (April 18)

- "When You Open a Book, Flowers Bloom in Your Heart" paper art vase making event in celebration of World Book Day (April 23)

Sajik Library will hold five events, including:

- Poetry relay handwriting program (April 1-30)

- Exhibition of books on environment and ecology, and original illustrations from "Botanical Optimism" (April 1-30)

- Hands-on program "Embracing Nature: Making My Own Diary" (April 15)

Sansu Library will organize five events, including:

- Book play lecture with author Kim Mihye (April 18)

- "Making Your Own Wooden Bookstand" hands-on activity (April 23)

- Exhibition of original illustrations from "Bear of a Spring Day" (April 1-23)

- Themed exhibition "Blue Art Museum" (April 1-23)

Hanam Library has prepared six events, including:

- "Earth-Saving Upcycling Pop-up Book" hands-on experience (April 14)

- Invited humanities lecture by author Kim Seonji, "Reading Time Through Pictures: History Stories Read Through Art" (April 15)

- Exhibition of original illustrations from "Children's Poetry Collection" (April 12-30)

Applications for lectures and hands-on programs can be submitted from the 24th through the "Cultural Classes Application" section on the municipal library website.

Song Gyeonghee, Director of the Municipal Library, stated, "We have prepared a variety of programs so that citizens can enjoy books and culture together during Library Week," adding, "We will continue to run events to promote a reading culture as an open cultural space that welcomes citizen participation."

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