Gumi-si Launches 'Books-People-Gumi Connecting Reading Culture' Project to Boost Local Vitality

Local Writers AlriGO, Save Neighborhood Bookstores, Author-Bookstore Collaboration

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province is implementing the "Reading Culture Connecting Books, People, and Gumi" project in line with the vision of the 4th Comprehensive Library Development Plan by the National Library Committee, titled "Libraries Where Everyone is Happy." This project aims to enhance regional vitality through specialized services and cross-boundary cooperation among knowledge and cultural institutions.

Joint Discussion Meeting for Reading Club Members with Local Authors.

To this end, the city will promote ▲Promote Local Authors and Revive Neighborhood Bookstores ▲Generation-Connecting Gumi-Tailored Reading Culture Project ▲Local Reading Culture Festival ▲Library Day, Library Week, and Reading Month events.

The "Promote Local Authors and Revive Neighborhood Bookstores" project was established to support local authors and bookstores facing difficulties due to the popularity of smartphone use and online video services, which have led to a decline in readers.

According to the "2023 Social Survey Results" released by Statistics Korea, leisure activities are dominated by watching video content on both weekdays (85.9%) and weekends (76.2%), and only 48.5% of the population aged 13 and over engage in reading, indicating that more than half do not read books.

The city plans to renew the local author exhibition corner within libraries to raise awareness, and jointly plan and implement specialized programs and generation-connecting programs for the local community to help local authors gain competitiveness.

Since last year, through the local bookstore certification system, 21 bookstores have been supplying books to the municipal library, and unique neighborhood bookstores in every alley are expected to be reborn as complex cultural spaces enjoying book culture through book talks and writing rooms.

The city aims to spread the socio-cultural value of libraries and establish a sustainable cooperation model between local authors and bookstores. Local authors will operate reading clubs and writing rooms at libraries or neighborhood bookstores, and bookstores capable of publishing will compile completed writings for publication. The published books and goods will then be sold again at bookstores, allowing authors to actively participate as local authors. This creates a virtuous cycle between readers and authors and revitalizes the local reading ecosystem.

Additionally, the city will carry out the "Generation-Connecting Gumi-Tailored Reading Culture Project" to meet citizens' demands, including ▲Children's Book Festa ▲Visiting reading lectures for middle and high school students ▲Support for reading clubs for the 2030 generation ▲Book concerts for the 4050 generation ▲Writing classes for the new middle-aged generation throughout the year.

The "Gumi Reading Culture Festival," centered on books and authors, is jointly promoted by libraries and local cultural alliances. It features invited author book talks, special exhibitions, podcast live broadcasts, book fairs, book culture experience booths, and band busking. Last year, about 3,000 people, including fans of invited authors from across the country, individuals and groups interested in independent publishing book fairs, and local residents, visited, demonstrating that book culture can become a tourism resource.

On "Library Day (April 12)," "Library Week (April 12?18)," and "Reading Month (September)," public libraries will hold various book culture events such as author invitation lectures, performances, experiential classes, outdoor book playgrounds, and exhibitions for all age groups from children to adults.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, "We will support local authors and bookstores and promote the sharing of knowledge and culture through diverse reading culture programs tailored to different generations. We will strive to make the local community richer and more vibrant through reading."