Dobong District Library Operates 'Smart Library' During COVID-19 Period

Introduction of 24-Hour Loan 'Smart Library' in First Half of 2021... Increasing E-books and Audiobooks, Securing New Titles to Support Library Use During COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dobong-gu (Mayor Dong-jin Lee) is introducing a 'Smart Library' that allows 24-hour borrowing in the first half of the year to create an environment where people can read books anytime and anywhere in the COVID-19 with era, and will significantly increase e-books and audiobooks.

Since the introduction of the e-book library in April last year, e-books have been used 18,509 times over about eight months, and currently more than 500 residents use the e-book library every week.

This is due to the closure of libraries and the implementation of social distancing caused by COVID-19.

The Dobong Cultural Foundation has actively allocated the e-book budget from 40 million won last year to 70 million won, and the audiobook budget to 100% compared to the previous year to keep up with this increasing demand.

E-books are digital books that can be viewed on personal computers, tablets, mobile devices, etc., and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere through the Dobong-gu Integrated Library website and the Kyobo Bookstore e-library app.

Any regular member of the Dobong-gu Integrated Library can borrow up to three books per person for 14 days free of charge, and can extend the loan period once for seven days. Books are automatically returned when the due date arrives.

The Smart Library, scheduled to be introduced in the first half of 2021, is a service that allows users to access new books, bestsellers, and steady sellers regardless of library operating hours.

The district plans to minimize user inconvenience caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic through e-book services and the Smart Library.

In particular, the Dobong Cultural Information Library, a representative local library, has been steadily providing a wide range of materials to meet various reading needs caused by unpredictable situations like COVID-19 last year.

It has prepared various online materials not only for hobbies, interior design, and health to comfort the mind for staying at home, but also materials related to the pandemic, viruses, disasters, and the environment that shed light on the current era.

The Dobong Cultural Information Library also provides continuous book information through various channels such as YouTube, Instagram, and BookPod (a podcast operated by the Dobong Cultural Information Library) to alleviate the inconvenience of accessing materials due to closures, and has improved the multimedia room space to provide the latest movie DVDs while continuously updating new books.

Mayor Dong-jin Lee of Dobong-gu said, “I hope that the library you can enjoy at home will be an opportunity to comfort the tired mind during the COVID-19 period and to get closer to books.”