Mapo-gu Provides Free Study Spaces for Examinees by Redesigning Spaces and Functions to Improve Operational Efficiency... "Step-by-Step and Customized Changes According to Small Library Conditions, with a Pilot Operation Period"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has embarked on a functional redesign to enhance the operational efficiency and convenience for residents of all nine small libraries in the area.
While maintaining the existing functions of small libraries such as book reading and lending, they will add spaces like ‘study cafes’ that have recently become popular among teenagers.
The district’s intention is to provide not only spaces for reading but also places where exam candidates and job seekers can study for free during nighttime hours.
Through this, the district expects to expand the main user base of small libraries, which currently consists of children and parents, to include teenagers and young adults.
Furthermore, for small libraries with low usage or inefficiency, the district is considering converting them into study rooms. The residents’ reading spaces, including book reading and lending, will be maintained as before.
A district official stated, “Today, a media outlet reported that ‘Mapo-gu is closing all nine small libraries and converting them into study rooms,’ but this is completely untrue.”
He added, “The main functions of the small libraries will be preserved, and new facilities combining spaces where teenagers and exam candidates can study or read comfortably will be created. We will also review all operational methods, including direct management and consignment, to decide on a more efficient approach.”
This functional redesign of small libraries stems from ongoing opinions that some small libraries have low user numbers and operational inefficiency relative to the budget used, necessitating improvements to the current management methods.
During the review of the ‘Consent for Recontracting the Private Consignment of the Operation Affairs of Seogang and Small Libraries in Mapo-gu’ at the ‘258th Mapo-gu Council 1st Regular Meeting (Welfare City Committee)’ held last September, various opinions on improving the current consignment operation method were presented.
The district has reflected not only the current improvement suggestions regarding small library operations but also the opinions of Mapo-gu’s youth.
The Mapo Youth Culture House conducted the ‘2022 Mapo-gu Youth Needs Survey’ in July, targeting 2,386 middle and high school students in the area. When asked about ‘the most necessary space for youth,’ respondents chose ‘comfortable resting space’ followed by ‘free study space’ (32.5%, 776 people).
Above all, the district plans to consider the operational conditions of each of the nine currently operating small libraries individually and proceed with changes in stages, including a pilot operation period.
Additionally, the Metaverse Video Electronic Library in Dohwa-dong, scheduled to open in 2023, will be developed as a learning space for teenagers and young adults, designed as a comfortable space where young people can freely read or study.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “By combining the existing small libraries and study rooms with the study cafe style favored by today’s younger generation, we will improve operational efficiency and transform them into new convenience facilities for the community.”
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