Development of Nowon District Library Branding as a Cultural Platform Hub

Establishing the Identity and Enhancing Competitiveness of Nowon-gu Public Libraries through Library Branding

Raising Internal and External Interest in Libraries and Promoting Reading Culture

Expecting Libraries to Serve as Cultural Icons, Not Just Places for Reading Books

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has established a library branding strategy to develop Nowon-gu Public Libraries as the central axis of a cultural platform.

As modern society changes, libraries are required not only to fulfill their traditional functions but also to serve as emotional cultural spaces that interact with the general public, functioning as cultural complexes.

Accordingly, the district has been fully committed since February to establishing a library branding strategy as the first step to settling reading culture and further nurturing libraries as core cultural content. The plan is to first establish the identity of the libraries and later transform existing library spaces into communal living rooms for residents, turning them into the central axis of a cultural platform.

The main content of the branding strategy is to strengthen internal and external promotion through ▲ a brand slogan and ▲ visual brand development that intuitively convey the core values and future vision of Nowon-gu Public Libraries.

In this regard, the district held a slogan contest last May. After evaluation by the contest judging committee and an electronic public vote, the slogan "Open Your Mind, Read Your Life" was finally selected.

The proposer explained that the slogan combines the act of reading books not simply as acquiring knowledge but as understanding others’ lives and broadening one’s thinking, linking the meaning of reading to the everyday image of opening a book and reading through the text. The selected slogan will be used in various promotional materials aligned with library events through future design development.

Additionally, visual design development was carried out to replace the individual library symbols and logos, which were previously made for external signage but lacked aesthetic appeal and consistency. The design concept centers on books, the intrinsic value of libraries, while incorporating images of culture and relaxation.

This design will serve as the official design of Nowon-gu Public Libraries and can be seen across various promotional media and exclusive goods such as mugs and eco-bags. The district expects this to naturally attract residents’ interest and effectively communicate library policy projects.

Nowon-gu operates a total of 37 public libraries, including public libraries, small libraries by district, and shared bookshelves, which are highly active with an annual usage of 2.03 million people. This is thanks to the establishment of libraries throughout residential areas, improving residents’ access to books.

Moreover, additional smart libraries are being established to expand the foundation for reading culture through future-oriented library construction and reading culture activation projects.

The Nowon Station Smart Library, scheduled to open on August 11, houses about 250 books and allows 24-hour non-face-to-face autonomous borrowing and returning. It was created inside the underground first floor of Subway Line 7 station, where there is heavy foot traffic, to accommodate office workers who find it difficult to visit libraries. If a desired book is not available, it can be reserved through the Nowon-gu Public Library website and picked up via an unmanned reservation book lending and return machine.

The annual "2023 Nowon Book Festival," which attracts about 40,000 participants, is also scheduled to be held on September 3 at Sanggye Neighborhood Park. Approximately 2,000 books will be provided to operate an outdoor library, and cultural and artistic experience spaces will be created, including book curation and book-sharing performances, allowing visitors to enjoy diverse reading cultures.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “According to research, libraries play a significant role in improving people’s quality of life,” adding, “We will continue to expand opportunities to spread reading culture in daily life and enhance residents’ quality of life through intersections with culture and arts.”