Yongin City Gifts Picture Book Packages to Children and Seniors

'Bookstart' Project Launched
to Foster a Culture of Reading

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province is gifting picture book packages to children and seniors to promote a reading culture.

On the 6th, Yongin City announced that it will present 'Bookstart' picture book packages to infants and toddlers in the area, as well as to elementary school entrants from families with two or more children. The city also added that starting this year, a new '5-step Senior Bookstart' program has been established to gift picture book packages to seniors aged 60 and above.

This project is a community cultural movement jointly conducted by the city and Bookstart Korea under the slogan "Start life with books."

The package includes a Bookstart bag made of an eco-bag, two picture books appropriate for the age group, and an informational booklet. The project will continue until the prepared book packages are depleted. Last year, about 6,000 citizens received book packages.

Applications for the picture book package distribution can be made by signing up on the 'Yongin Special City Library' website. The 1st step (Bookstart) book package is distributed immediately upon birth registration at the local eup, myeon, or dong administrative welfare center without a separate application.

The 2nd step (Plus) package for infants aged 13 to 24 months, the 3rd step (Treasure Box) for infants aged 25 to 36 months, and the 4th step (Book Wings) for elementary school entrants from multi-child families require prior application and can be collected by visiting one of the 18 municipal libraries in the area. The 5th step book package for seniors aged 60 and above is distributed to participants in the library’s senior-linked programs.

When collecting in person, recipients must bring their ID card (for step 5) or a guardian’s ID card (for steps 1 to 4) along with a resident registration certificate issued within the last three months.

A city official stated, "We will plan and implement reading programs tailored to each life stage centered on the Bookstart project to create a reading culture that satisfies both children and seniors."