Songpa-gu Diversifies Contactless Services Including Online Book Loans

Installation of Safety Booths at 11 Public Libraries

Geomado Library

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is providing various online leisure culture services, including online book loans, as the closure of multi-use facilities due to COVID-19 has been prolonged.

The 'Online Simple Book Loan' service was prepared for residents who experience inconvenience in borrowing books due to library closures. Without visiting the library, books can be borrowed through the Songpa-gu Integrated Library website, and this service is operated temporarily until the end of the closure.

Service users select the desired book and apply for a loan, then visit the library the next day to pick it up. This service is available at Songpa Geulmaru Library, Songpa Children's Library, Songpa Children's English Library, and eight other district-run libraries.

Application hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and up to five books can be borrowed per person for 14 days. Books can be picked up at designated locations between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. the day after application, according to the notification message. Since the number of users and pick-up locations vary by library, it is necessary to check before applying for the service.

To prevent COVID-19, all books requested for loan are disinfected with a book sterilizer and provided in separate packaging. Additionally, to minimize direct contact, safe booths for book delivery have been installed at 11 district-run libraries in the area.

Furthermore, the district offers various online lectures so residents can enjoy leisure and culture at home. For first-quarter registrants at the Lifelong Learning Center, online videos such as 'Interesting Tarot Stories' and 'Korean Art Stories' are provided to help continue education. For students at Garak 1-dong Community Center, 15 cultural and leisure lecture videos including yoga, line dance, acoustic guitar, Chinese language, and origami are offered.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We are exploring various alternatives for residents who are experiencing many inconveniences due to reduced outdoor activities,” and added, “We will strive to provide various cultural and educational programs online until the COVID-19 situation ends so that residents’ daily lives are not diminished.”