A 44% Increase in Loans Thanks to Interlibrary Loan and Integrated Return Services
Smart Libraries to Be Installed at the Entrances of Mabuk-dong and Sangha-dong Administrative Welfare Centers in the First Half of the Year
Last year, the use of smart libraries operated by Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province increased by more than 40%. The city analyzed that this was the result of enhancing user convenience through interlibrary loan and integrated return services. Accordingly, the city plans to expand the number of smart libraries from the current 13 to 17 by next year.
Yongin City operates smart libraries at 13 locations, including City Hall. With services such as interlibrary loan and integrated return, the number of loans using the smart libraries increased by 44% compared to the previous year. Provided by Yongin City
According to Yongin City on the 15th, the number of books borrowed from smart libraries operated by the city last year was 39,579. The city explained that this was a 44% increase compared to the previous year. The number of borrowers also increased by 29% during the same period, reaching 13,013.
Smart libraries are unmanned libraries in the form of kiosks. The city believes that the sharp increase in smart library use last year was due to the introduction of interlibrary loan and integrated return services that allow books borrowed from other libraries to be returned at smart libraries. In fact, the number of books borrowed using the interlibrary loan service at smart libraries was 19,755, accounting for half of the total usage.
Currently, Yongin City's smart libraries are located at 13 places including Giheung Station, Jukjeon Station, Yongin Central Market Station, Seongbok Station, and the administrative welfare centers of Bojeong-dong, Sinbong-dong, Dongcheon-dong, Wonsam-myeon, Giheung-dong, Sanggal-dong, Yeokbuk-dong, as well as Yurim-dong Yubang Children's Park and Yongin City Hall.
The city plans to continue expanding smart libraries. First, two smart libraries will be installed at the entrances of Mabuk-dong and Sangha-dong administrative welfare centers in the first half of this year. Then, two more will be added next year, operating a total of 17 smart libraries in the region.
A library official said, "The introduction of the interlibrary loan service last year greatly increased the usage rate of smart libraries," adding, "We will continue to prepare various services so that citizens can get closer to books and use libraries more conveniently."
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