81st “Small but Certain Happiness” Pledge
“All Public Libraries to Allow Book Borrowing and Returns with a Single Registration”
[Asia Economy, reporter Lee Kimin] On February 27, Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced his plan to integrate all public library services-including membership cards, book borrowing and returns-to ensure greater convenience for users.
On this day, through social networking services (SNS), Lee unveiled his 81st “Small but Certain Happiness” pledge, which focuses on “Improving Public Library Services.”
Currently, there are 1,172 public libraries in Korea. While these libraries originally focused on book reading and lending functions, they have recently evolved into complex cultural institutions and public facilities, offering services such as reading clubs, lifelong learning programs, and various leisure activities.
However, the Democratic Party pointed out that because public libraries are operated separately by offices of education, metropolitan governments, and local governments, the interconnection of services is not smooth, causing significant inconvenience for users.
As a result, users must obtain separate membership cards for each library, meaning they often need to carry multiple cards. If the operating bodies are different, interlibrary book loans are not possible, which further inconveniences users.
To address these issues, services such as “Chaegieum” (a service that allows users to access all public libraries nationwide with a single card) and “Chaekbada” (a service that allows users to borrow books from any public library nationwide) have been introduced. However, these services are not user-friendly and require a long processing time, indicating a need for improvement.
Lee pledged to resolve these inconveniences by making it possible for users to “borrow and return books at all metropolitan public libraries with a single registration.”
He proposed improving the current public library service system, which is centered on operating bodies, so that metropolitan governments work in conjunction and cooperation with offices of education and local governments. If this system is implemented, library users will be able to borrow and return books, as well as use interlibrary loan services, at any library within their metropolitan city or province with just one library membership card.
The Democratic Party’s campaign committee emphasized, “We will realize a ‘public library for all’ that is open to everyone and free of barriers to use.”
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