‘Subway IN Library’ located at Hanam Geomdansan Station was selected as the 2024 Korean Today Excellent Library. This library is designed with Hanam City’s mascot characters, Hanami and Bangul, to give a sense of familiarity to citizens.
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[Korean Today] Hanam Geomdan Station ‘Subway IN Library’ selected as an excellent library, operated freely with democratic civic consciousness. © Reporter Baek Chang-hee |
‘Subway IN Library’ is a reading space operated in the form of self-loan and self-return. It encourages citizens to borrow and return books based on democratic consciousness, and to develop reading habits in their daily lives. Donated books and books from the city library are provided, and anyone can use them freely.
How to use
Anyone who uses Hanam Geomdansan Station can use the library, and each person can borrow up to 5 books for 2 weeks. Borrowing and returning books is done in an analog way that records them directly. This method is operated through the voluntary participation of citizens.
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[Korean Today] Guide to using the subway IN library and books provided © Reporter Baek Chang-hee |
Background on the selection of excellent libraries
The reason why it was selected as the ‘2024 Korean Today Excellent Library’ is because of the high level of civic awareness, systematic management of Hanam City Library, and the dedicated efforts of volunteers. In particular, senior volunteers play an important role in organizing and maintaining the library. The way citizens voluntarily record and organize books was evaluated as an exemplary case of autonomous library.
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[Korean Today] The appearance of the ‘Subway IN Library’, an outdoor beach library freely used by citizens © Reporter Baek Chang-hee |
The development of autonomous study rooms
The library is being organized more neatly by the hands of volunteers. The small hands of citizens are gathering to organize the bookshelves of the library and maintain it as a space that everyone can use comfortably. These efforts played an important role in this selection.
Role as a cultural space
‘Subway IN Library’ is not just a place to borrow and return books, but a place to enjoy culture and leisure. It is used as a shelter to wait for friends or escape the heat while reading picture books. It is also well-received by citizens due to its good accessibility to amenities such as restrooms.
Improvements and Citizen Participation
Some books are falling over or are not properly organized, but citizens are voluntarily organizing books to solve these problems. If additional organizing tools such as L-shaped holders are provided, book management will become much easier. With the cooperation of senior volunteers and citizens of Hanam City, the autonomous library will become a space loved by many more people.
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[Korean Today] Citizens are voluntarily borrowing and returning books manually. © Reporter Baek Chang-hee |
On this occasion of being selected as an excellent library, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those involved in Hanam City and the ‘Subway IN Library’. In particular, the sincere efforts of volunteers and the mature participation of citizens made this achievement possible. Hanam City’s autonomous library is an exemplary case of autonomous and democratic civic culture, and I hope that such open libraries will expand to more regions in the future.
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