Gyeonggi Provincial Library and 31 City and County Libraries Launch "Reading On: Gyeonggi Project"

The Gyeonggi Provincial Library, in collaboration with 31 city and county public libraries throughout the province, is set to officially launch a new reading culture initiative called the "Reading On: Gyeonggi Project."

The "Reading On: Gyeonggi Project" was designed to move beyond the traditional approach of waiting for visitors inside the library and instead expand the role of public libraries as hubs for everyday connections. The project will bring reading, discussion, and reflection directly to residents in plazas, parks, streets, and everyday spaces where they gather.

On May 18, the Gyeonggi Provincial Library announced that it will host a project briefing session for public library officials and librarians from cities and counties across the province, marking the beginning of a full-scale collaborative framework.

The library plans to run a variety of year-round programs tailored to local characteristics and citizen needs, including popup libraries, themed collection exhibitions, book busking, reading camps, reading stays, and children's reading coaching.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

The popup libraries will be curated with themed collections on contemporary topics such as climate and environment, AI, caregiving, relationships, and life transitions, allowing residents to engage with these subjects more naturally. The initiative will also feature a series of relay lectures and book talks by prominent speakers, immersive book stays with reading clubs, and overnight reading camps.

Furthermore, the project aims to go beyond serving existing library users by inviting new readers—particularly those not yet connected to public libraries—into the fold. To achieve this, the library will expand stay-type and participatory programs that allow families, young adults, office workers, and children to take part in library activities as part of their daily lives, without burden.

Through this project, the Gyeonggi Provincial Library envisions transforming libraries from spaces for simple book lending into public platforms where residents can read together, ask questions, and connect with one another.

Yoon Myunghee, Director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Library, stated, "'Reading On: Gyeonggi' is a project that connects people with people and communities with libraries through books. It is especially meaningful as a collaborative model jointly created by the 31 city and county public libraries and their librarians in Gyeonggi Province. We expect it to become a new experiment in public libraries by proactively reaching out to residents beyond the library walls."

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