The blueprint for the Gyeonggi-do Library, the flagship provincial library set to open in the second half of 2025, has been unveiled.
The Gyeonggi-do Library is being constructed in Gwanggyo New Town, Iui-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, within the Gyeonggi Convergence Town. The facility will have four underground floors and five above-ground floors. Construction began in September 2022, and as of now, the project is 40% complete. Gyeonggi Province aims to finish the building by the end of this year and open the library in the second half of next year.
As the province’s first metropolitan representative library, Gyeonggi-do Library will oversee the policies of over 2,000 libraries in the province, including 309 public libraries and 1,676 small libraries.
On April 15, Gyeonggi Province announced the library’s vision as “An Attractive, Leading, Climate and Environment Library,” and introduced three key directions to realize this vision: a library with appeal, a library at the center of change, and a climate library preparing for the next 100 years.
First, to become “a library with appeal,” the province will support residents’ access to information, reading activities, cultural events, and lifelong learning, creating a library that is friendly and accessible in daily life. To achieve this, the library will offer a variety of programs embodying the core values of convergence, creativity, and relaxation.
In addition to its policy library function, Gyeonggi-do Library will also work to improve service quality across all libraries in the province by collecting local materials, introducing new library operation technologies, and providing training for managers and activists.
To this end, Gyeonggi Province will host the 62nd National Library Conference in line with the library’s opening next year. The National Library Conference is a nationwide event where domestic and international library experts and stakeholders gather to discuss library policy directions and share outstanding programs.
Through hosting the National Library Conference, the province plans to showcase the operational direction and specialized programs of the Gyeonggi-do Library and incorporate the latest library policy trends into its operations.
Additionally, Gyeonggi Province will introduce the largest metropolitan e-book and audiobook services in the Gyeonggi-do Library. In June, a metaverse library showcasing the actual appearance of the Gyeonggi-do Library will open, and a book delivery service for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and pregnant women will also be launched.
To raise awareness about the climate crisis through the Gyeonggi-do Library, the building will incorporate carbon reduction technologies, and the interior will be designed as an ecological space.
The Gyeonggi-do Library has already received the highest Green Grade (Grade 1) in green architecture and a '1++ Grade' in building energy efficiency. A geothermal facility capable of generating 739.28 kW of electricity will be installed beneath the underground parking lot, and a 221.94 kW solar power system will be installed on the rooftop. New technologies such as Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and bidirectional smart electric vehicle charging will also be applied.
The library’s interior will be decorated as an ecological space called “YeoYOUinBotanic.” To provide residents with the experience of relaxing in nature and reading in an ecological environment, an ecological space connected to the “Gyeonggi Garden” will be established inside the library. A “Seed Library Program” will also be operated. Gyeonggi Province plans to offer opportunities for residents to participate in ecological restoration values, such as lending seeds for them to grow.
Kim Dongju, Director of Library Policy at Gyeonggi Province, stated, “We have developed operational plans for the Gyeonggi-do Library by gathering input from many experts and residents, aiming to make it a place where everyone can visit comfortably and experience not only reading but also various opportunities for cultural, artistic, and AI-powered creative activities.” He added, “We will ensure the library serves as a center for practical action and change in response to the climate crisis.”
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