Yongin Special City will implement the ‘Hope Book Direct Loan System’ starting January 2, which allows citizens to borrow new books of their choice from local bookstores. This system is an innovative book loan service that increases citizens’ reading convenience and promotes the revitalization of local bookstores, and 23 local bookstores are participating to provide more practical benefits.
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[Korean Today] Yongin Special City ‘Hope Book Direct Loan System’ Information Poster © Reporter Na-yeon Kim |
The ‘Hope Book Direct Loan System’, which was first launched in Yongin Special City in 2015, is a system where citizens can borrow new books they want to read from local bookstores, read them, return them to the bookstore, and the library purchases the books and registers them in its collection. This system has been very popular, with about 27,874 citizens borrowing a total of 44,056 books over the past year.
In 2024, any regular member of the Yongin Special City Library can borrow new books from 23 designated bookstores in the region up to twice a month. Loan applications can be made through the Yongin City Library website (https://lib.yongin.go.kr/), and after receiving a loan approval text message, visit the designated bookstore.
The period of use for borrowed books is 14 days, and can be extended for an additional 7 days once. After reading the book, citizens should return it to the bookstore from which they borrowed it. The returned books are purchased by the library and registered as public books, so it is a system in which the reading experience of each citizen is transferred to the overall library asset.
Currently, there are 23 bookstores participating in the Hope Book Direct Loan System: 6 in Cheoin-gu, 7 in Giheung-gu, and 10 in Suji-gu. Representative bookstores include ‘Myeongji Bookstore’ in Cheoin-gu, ‘Gugaldaeji Bookstore’ in Giheung-gu, and ‘Gwanggyo Bookstore’ in Suji-gu.
City officials said, “This system not only provides citizens with a convenient reading environment, but is also an effective model of cooperation for mutual growth with local bookstores. We will continue to do our best to increase citizen satisfaction and provide sustainable services.”
As the Hope Book Direct Loan System is operated in cooperation with local bookstores, it is expected to provide citizens with more choices and accessibility, and also contribute to revitalizing the local economy.
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