Yongin Special City (Mayor Lee Sang-il) announced that the smart library usage rate has increased significantly since the introduction of the interlibrary loan and integrated return service in January of last year. The number of books borrowed increased by 44% year-on-year to 39,579, and the number of borrowers increased by 29% to 13,013.
|
[Korean Today] Smart Library Installed in Yongin Special City Office Building © Reporter Na-yeon Kim |
Yongin Special City has been strengthening its smart library services so that citizens can enjoy reading culture more conveniently, and as a result, it achieved great results in usage rates last year.
Smart libraries are facilities where citizens can borrow or return public library books at a nearby smart library without having to visit the public library in person. Convenience was greatly improved with the introduction of interlibrary loan and integrated return services in January of last year.
Since the introduction of this service, the number of books borrowed through the smart library has increased by 44% year-on-year to 39,579, and the number of borrowers has increased by 29% to 13,013. In particular, books borrowed through the interlibrary loan service amounted to 19,755, accounting for 50% of all loans, which was analyzed as the main reason for the activation of the service.
Currently, there are 13 smart libraries in operation in Yongin City. The main locations are Giheung Station, Jukjeon Station, Yongin Central Market Station, Seongbok Station, Bojeong-dong, Sinbong-dong, Dongcheon-dong, Wonsam-myeon, Giheung-dong, Sanggal-dong, Yeokbuk-dong Administrative Welfare Center, Yulim-dong Yubang Children’s Park, and Yongin City Hall. However, Giheung Station and Jukjeon Station smart libraries do not provide interlibrary loan or integrated return services.
The city plans to install two more smart libraries at the entrances of the Mabuk-dong and Sanghwa-dong administrative welfare centers during the first half of this year, expanding the total to 15, and plans to add two more next year to operate a total of 17 smart libraries.
A library official said, “The smart library’s interlibrary loan service has greatly contributed to increasing accessibility for citizens,” and added, “We will continue to provide various services so that citizens can get closer to books and strive to improve the reading environment.”
With the expansion of smart libraries, Yongin Special City is providing an environment where citizens can more easily access books and enjoy reading, and plans to continue to revitalize reading culture through continuous service improvement and facility expansion.
|
|
© The Korean Today – All Rights Reserved