Nowon-gu Operates Children's Book Curator Program 'Dispatch Children Librarians'

From July 24 to August 7, every Wednesday at Nowon Children's Library
Create Your Own Pop-up Book, Experience Book Curating, and More to Spark Interest in Reading Through Self-directed Activities

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will operate 'Dispatch! Children Librarians' to broaden children's reading horizons and stimulate interest in reading.

'Dispatch! Children Librarians' is not simply about consuming books but is a process of active participation and creation. It features a book curation method where children select and introduce books themselves based on specific themes.

The education program will be conducted by Choi Mi-jung, the head instructor of the Book and Media Education Research Institute, at Nowon Children's Library every Wednesday from July 24 to August 7, for a total of three sessions. The target participants are 15 children in grades 1 to 3 of elementary school who have completed prior registration.

In the first week, under the theme "What kind of place is a library?", proper library usage will be guided. Children will enhance their understanding of libraries by resolving various questions such as ▲ how books are classified in the library ▲ what the classification symbols attached to each book mean ▲ and what librarians do.

In the second week, children will learn about the process of making books and the characteristics of different books, and participate in a hands-on activity to create their own books. This is a process to actively stimulate interest in reading, allowing children to express creativity and develop imagination through making pop-up books containing their own stories. Additionally, the pop-up books are made using a 'recycling method' that repurposes old and damaged picture books, conveying the importance of environmental protection to children.

In the final third week, the core of the program, 'book curating,' takes place. Children will not only present the pop-up books they created but also select books according to a chosen theme, write introductions, and exhibit them to share with other participants. Through this special experience of sharing the joy of reading, children can further increase their interest in reading.

Meanwhile, the district continuously develops and promotes diverse content to support residents' reading activities, including the annual 'Nowon-gu One Book Reading Relay,' where a specific theme and representative book are selected for collective reading and discussion, as well as the 'Nowon Book Festival,' which features various experiences and performances centered around books.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "As artificial intelligence rapidly changes our society, the importance of reading to cultivate humanities literacy is growing more and more," adding, "I hope children can nurture their dreams and potential through reading."