Yongin Suji Library, the Secret Behind Being No.1 in Nationwide Book Loans

Implementation of Various Policies Considering Citizen Convenience, Including the 'Baro Daechulje' for Borrowing Books at Bookstores

Sujido Library in Suji, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do has been found to have the highest number of book loans among more than 1,700 public libraries nationwide.

Children's Materials Room at Suji Library in Yongin. Suji Library recorded nearly 880,000 book loans last year, ranking first among public libraries nationwide.
[Photo by Yongin City]

According to the recent survey results released on the National Library Statistics System by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 16th, which targeted 1,721 public libraries across the country, Sujido Library in Yongin loaned a total of 879,485 books last year, ranking first nationwide. In this survey, the Ministry investigated 42 items across 8 areas including ▲basic information ▲service cooperation status ▲collection materials ▲facilities and equipment ▲staff status ▲budget ▲usage and user status ▲knowledge information services for vulnerable groups and children.

In Yongin-si, besides Sujido Library, Sanghyeon Library (540,000 books) ranked 10th, and Jukjeon Library (460,000 books) ranked 18th, with a total of 10 libraries placing within the top 100 for book loan performance. Yongin-si public libraries also ranked high in evaluation categories such as the number of electronic resources, library visitors, website access, and budget for knowledge information services for vulnerable groups.

The loan performance of Yongin-si public libraries is attributed to various citizen-centered book policies. In fact, the city implements reading promotion policies such as ▲the 'Direct Loan System' allowing books to be borrowed at bookstores ▲the 'Wish Book Service' which purchases requested books ▲the 'Smart Library,' a non-face-to-face loan service available 365 days a year ▲the 'Integrated Interlibrary Loan Service' allowing borrowing and returning books at nearby libraries ▲and doubling the loan period during the last week of every month to enhance reading promotion.

A city official stated, "Yongin-si is expanding the infrastructure of public libraries through construction and remodeling, as well as operating various reading promotion policies to enable citizens to conveniently use libraries."