Library Opened and Services Provided to Local Residents
Gyeongsang National University was selected as the "Grand Prize" winner in the national university category at the "2023 Government Innovation Best Practices Competition in the Education Sector."
According to the Planning Office and Library of Gyeongsang National University, the Ministry of Education conducted an online public vote by institution type for the 10 cases selected in the first round of the Government Innovation Best Practices Competition in the education sector (4 cases from education offices, 2 from national universities, and 4 from the Ministry of Education) and announced the final results.
Gyeongsang National University submitted the case titled "Demand-Centered 24/7 Smart Library" and was selected as the grand prize winner (in the service government sector) with 69.82% of the votes, while Jeju National University, which received 30.18% of the votes, won the excellence award. "24/7" means "24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round."
Gyeongsang National University has remodeled its Central Library to align with the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and provides demand-centered services by opening the facility 24 hours a day, year-round.
To this end, the university realized a state-of-the-art smart library through a structural remodeling project that reconfigured the library space. Floors 1 to 3 of the library were newly arranged as reading and multi-cultural rest areas open 24/7 to satisfy the diverse reading needs of users.
Additionally, various and distinctive design furniture and interiors were newly installed in spaces such as single-person carrels, stepped book squares, cafes and exhibition lounges, smart group study rooms, and entertainment rooms. Moreover, systems utilizing information and communication technology (ICT), such as a large video media wall, mobile seat reservation, and one-pass access control system, were also established.
In particular, Gyeongsang National University formed and operated a library-student communication council involving student representatives to communicate with key users, resulting in the provision of a new "24/7 Smart Library Service" centered on user demand.
The Gyeongsang National University Library expanded its opening hours to 24/7 through mobile access control and remote elevator control, and equipped smart book reservation and lending kiosks as well as unmanned book return machines to enable round-the-clock book borrowing and returning.
Moon Sun-ok, the library director, said, "By completing the remodeling project based on the latest information and communication technology that reflects the diverse and distinctive reading demands of the MZ generation, we have strengthened the learning and research competitiveness of this national flagship university." She added, "In particular, the remodeling thoroughly reflected users' opinions and the 24/7 year-round opening implemented policies that align with the service government principle based on communication and cooperation."
She continued, "By providing library access and services equally not only to campus members but also to local residents, we have contributed to strengthening the public nature of the national university and to community engagement."
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