Gyeonggi-do and Uijeongbu-si Launch Province's First 'Library Interloan Service'
Shared Use of 530,000 Books Begins... Gradual Expansion of Reading Convenience Services
Members Can Access and Borrow Materials at 6 Uijeongbu-si Libraries Upon Visit Request
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 26th that starting from the 19th, it will promote the "Gyeonggi Province?Uijeongbu City Interlibrary Loan Service," which allows joint use of books held by Uijeongbu City public libraries (6 branches: Information, Science, Art, Music, English, Gajaeul) and the Gyeonggi Peace Plaza Book Cafe (Administrative Library of the Northern Office of Gyeonggi Provincial Government).
The interlibrary loan service is originally a library service centered on local government libraries that use the same system to borrow and return books. Although there has been demand for data linkage (interlibrary loan) between Gyeonggi Province and Uijeongbu City, difficulties in joint use of books existed due to different systems.
Accordingly, by being the first to promote joint use of books between Uijeongbu City public libraries and the Plaza Book Cafe, Gyeonggi Province aims to increase convenience for residents and expand the base of reading through more diverse use of knowledge and information.
Also, while existing government-promoted joint book use services require users to bear some costs or go through membership registration procedures, the Gyeonggi Province?Uijeongbu City interlibrary loan service allows Book Cafe members to freely use over 530,000 items held across 7 libraries, contributing to the promotion of reading activities in Gyeonggi Province and Uijeongbu City.
Book Cafe members can request books from the six Uijeongbu City public libraries by visiting the Book Cafe, and returns can also be made at the Book Cafe.
In addition, the province operates a "Wish Book Immediate Loan Service," where if a desired book not held by the Book Cafe is requested through the library website, it can be received within 5 days from the next day (excluding weekends and holidays). Previously, the wish book loan service took over a month, but now it has been improved to be possible within 5 days.
Byun Sang-gi, Administrative Management Officer of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Through the interlibrary loan service linking library materials between Gyeonggi Province and Uijeongbu City and the immediate loan service providing wish books within 5 days, we will improve the reading culture environment for residents in northern Gyeonggi and promote pilot projects supporting various reading activities to establish a foundation for making reading a daily habit."
Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Peace Plaza Book Cafe at the Northern Office of Gyeonggi Provincial Government opened newly in 2018, holding about 52,000 books, and continuously runs cultural programs with about 80,000 annual users, including reading, cultural performances, and experiential events.
For more details on the Gyeonggi Province?Uijeongbu City interlibrary loan service, inquiries can be made to the Gyeonggi Peace Plaza Book Cafe.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
