LH Opens 'Happy Village Small Library' in Iksan Inhwa, Jeonbuk

Opening of Iksan Inhwa Happy Housing Library, the first completed complex of the Small Library Remodeling Project
LH employees donate 7,000 books and 25 million KRW for book purchases and donations
Support of 30,000 books and 1 billion KRW operating expenses nationwide this year to revitalize small libraries

Ha Seung-ho, Head of LH Housing Welfare Headquarters (second from the right), along with officials from the Korea Small Library Association and the Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency, are delivering books and donations and taking a commemorative photo after the 'LH Happy Village Small Library Opening Ceremony' on the 30th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced on the 30th that it held the ‘LH Happy Village Small Library Opening Ceremony’ at the small library within the Jeonbuk Iksan Inhwa Happy Housing complex and delivered books and donations.

The Jeonbuk Iksan Inhwa Happy Housing small library is the first case where the previously underutilized library was reborn as a resident-centered, lifestyle-oriented complex cultural space. The event was attended by Ha Seung-ho, Head of LH Housing Welfare Headquarters, Jeong Heon-yul, Mayor of Iksan, Yoo Jae-gu, Chairman of the City Council, Park Chan-soo, Secretary General of the Korea Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Agency, Jeong Ki-won, Chairman of the Korea Small Library Association, and residents.

On this day, LH not only held the small library opening ceremony but also presented a plaque of appreciation to the Korea Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Agency, which has actively collaborated to revitalize small libraries. Additionally, a book and donation delivery ceremony was held. The 7,000 books donated by LH employees will be distributed to LH small libraries nationwide, and the donation of 25 million KRW will be given to the Small Library Association to be used for purchasing new books requested by residents.

Last year, LH conducted a remodeling pilot project targeting the small library within the Gyeongnam Innovation LH Complex 3, transforming the old library into an education and cultural space centered on the resident community and actively supporting resident-led library management. Furthermore, in May of this year, through a remodeling project contest targeting small libraries in rental housing complexes nationwide, a total of 46 locations were selected for remodeling, with the goal of completion within the year.

This project involves residents participating from the remodeling planning stage, and through expert consulting, remodels existing libraries into new communication spaces led by residents. LH plans to remodel 46 small libraries annually, totaling 230 locations over the next five years, targeting rental housing small libraries wishing to undergo remodeling.

In addition, LH is establishing and promoting 11 detailed tasks to transform small libraries from ‘spaces for reading books’ into ‘complex community spaces for residents.’

Through the operation of the ‘LH Small Library Support Center,’ LH assists with △ small library opening consulting △ training of operation experts △ planning and operation of resident cultural programs, supporting small library management. LH has also hired 272 qualified residents, such as librarians and reading instructors, as small library coordinators to create jobs for residents and is conducting basic environment setup and capacity-building education for small library operation.

Moreover, this year, in collaboration with the Korea Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Agency, LH supported 30,000 new books to 305 small libraries targeted for revitalization, and LH independently provided 1 billion KRW for small library operating expenses and community activation program costs.

Head Ha stated, "We plan to expand facility improvements, operation personnel training, equipment, and financial support to create resident-tailored small libraries, and we hope that the small library spaces will foster a community culture filled with neighborly warmth."