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From June 19 to 23, the 2019 Seoul International Book Fair was held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. In the exhibition, which is considered Korea's largest book festival, the Seoul Metropolitan Government ran the Seoul Public Library Zone under the slogan 'If you go to a book exhibition, there is a library'. This year's new event was designed to improve the quality of the reading awareness of 10 million Seoulites. The main purpose of this event was to promote the infrastructure of the city's public library, which is to make it easy to find anytime, anywhere. The city also wanted to have in-depth discussions on revitalizing the reading ecosystem to achieve win-win cooperation between libraries, publishers and bookstores.
The Seoul International Book Fair's 'Seoul Public Library Zone' event was held through various programs including exhibitions, experiences and conferences. First, the exhibition at the booth was a three-part total, using photography and video media to express the city's public libraries' efforts to interact with and co-exist with citizens.
In the first exhibition, "Reading the History of the Library of Seoul," the Seoul Library's efforts were felt to create an environment in which all Seoulites can access the library within 10 minutes of walking through various libraries. In the exhibition "Finding Your Way in the Library," in particular, all libraries in Seoul are connected as one, emphasizing mutual trucking services (which can be borrowed and found anywhere) and unmanned lending services, and promoting various policies and support of the city's public libraries so that citizens can feel it through their bodies.
The most impressive exhibition for me was Part 2 'Library Culture Program' because I felt that I was thinking a lot about what role public libraries in Seoul should play in "Shared City Seoul." The current library, which has developed into a community of citizens' knowledge and culture, emphasizes that books have become a place of harmony for all generations while enjoying and sharing culture through media. The exhibition shows the support of reading club, and the slow learner mentoring and mentoring project are strengthening the reading culture ecosystem.
There was also an experience to improve the individuality of the public library in Seoul. These experiences are said to have been prepared in each public library. The main events included 'My Own Book of the Guro Public Library' and 'The Book Art Experience - Making Our House' at the Eunpyeong Public Library. This diverse experience has given citizens the time to perceive libraries as complex cultural spaces, not just reading spaces.
On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Public Library Zone held a conference at the Event Hall in COEX, in addition to the booth exhibition and experience. The meeting was held to find a win-win solution and revitalization policy on 'Dogdong-ri and Book Club Are Driving Our Reading Culture?' "The Seoul Metropolitan Public Library Zone is a symbolic event that brings together interested parties over the knowledge and cultural ecosystem, and I think it is a good opportunity to promote co-prosperity of libraries, publishers and bookstores," said Lee Jung-soo, head of the Seoul Library, in charge of opening the conference. We also hope that the network of public libraries will help strengthen the sharing and cooperation of reading and culture programs."
The conference, which lasted about three hours, took the time to explore the direction of reading and sharing knowledge through various suggestions such as 'Online, Operation and Direction of Offline Reading Gathering', 'Social Reading Model' and 'Read Together'. In the presentation of "The Real Reasons for Reading Together" by Shin Ki-soo, the leader of the Sungnyemun Literature Party of the reading community, he drew a positive view of the knowledge sharing and reading groups that voluntarily participate by taking time to compare reading with reading alone.
Through this event, I also thought about public libraries, which are more likely than anywhere else to be a place where people can communicate and share their knowledge beyond reading space. In addition, not only those who use public libraries but also public libraries themselves are moving toward better forms of libraries through efforts to share reading and culture programs with other libraries.
Wouldn't we be able to approach an ideal society as we grow up to create a desirable environment through constant reading and discussion? As public libraries continue to present new role models, we should also strive for reading and knowledge sharing and develop our ability to utilize public libraries. The easiest way for individuals to do this is to actively participate in programs hosted by public libraries. This weekend, why don't you take a light heart and go to the public library near your home and browse through the booklet promoting the reading culture program?
Information on Cultural events - Seoul International Book Fair where the Seoul Public Library Preservation Event took place
- Time: In mid-June every year (Apply for free advance admission in May)
- Venue: COEX Exhibition Hall, Samseong-dong, Seoul
Seoul Metropolitan Public Library
- Official Blog: Blog. naver.com/seoul_library
- Contact: 02-2133-0213
