The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education announced on July 14 that ten public libraries under its jurisdiction will operate not only as knowledge spaces but also as summer refuges and cultural-educational complexes for local residents in response to the heat wave.
To help local residents spend the summer safely and comfortably during the heat wave, public libraries will keep their reading rooms air-conditioned and open at all times, providing a place for users to rest. Regular libraries are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the Gukchaebosang, Bukbu, and Suseong libraries will extend their hours until 10 p.m. The children's reading rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition, to prepare for the heat wave, libraries have planned a variety of book exhibitions and cultural programs, allowing visitors to cool off while reading and enjoy cultural experiences with their families. Books suitable for the season, such as "summer health," "healing the mind," "travel," and "scary stories," have been selected and displayed by theme. Each library's audiovisual room will also run movie screening programs to help visitors forget the heat.
The 2·28 Memorial Student Library (Director Kim Chilgu) will screen movies every day from July 15 to July 31 at 2 p.m. in the 228 Hall (Room 414). Anyone can enter without registration and freely enjoy the movies. Only films rated for all audiences will be screened, allowing families to escape the heat and enjoy the movies together.
The National Debt Repayment Movement Memorial Library (Director Kim Dongchan) will hold various events, including the "English Magic Show" family experience event on Saturday, July 19, and a "Which Book Will You Take on a Bookcation This Summer?" event recommending good summer reads until July 31.
The Dongbu Library (Director Joo Haesook) is running the "Adventure Book of the Month," an English book exhibition themed around space and adventure in its temporary reading room. The library also offers a "Moment of Copying" experience corner, where visitors can copy a famous quote from a book to make their own bookmark, and displays the copied works created by participants.
The Nambu Library (Director Lee Jihoon) will operate the "Midsummer Nambu Cinema" from July 16 to July 31. During this period, popular movies will be screened in the audiovisual room from Wednesday to Friday at 2 p.m. Anyone can enter without registration and freely enjoy the movies.
The Bukbu Library (Director Jegal Sunhee) will run the "Dancing Library for the Whole Family" on July 19 at 10 a.m., where children and parents can participate in a healing community dance. On the same day at 3 p.m., the library will present the puppet show "The Rabbit's Trial," which is reconstructed based on a textbook story so that not only children but also the whole family can enjoy and understand it.
The Seobu Library (Director Lee Jaesook) has created an indoor garden in the lobby to provide a cool resting place during the heat wave. The library has also expanded its movie screening days during the heat wave, showing films every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, as well as on the last Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. from July onward.
The Duryu Library (Director Shin Kyunga) screens documentaries and movies in the audiovisual room at 2 p.m. four times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) for citizens and students visiting the library. The children's room offers various hands-on activities, such as the "Crossword Puzzle Quiz" and "World Travel from the Library."
The Suseong Library (Director Kwon Iseom) will run the "Midsummer Suseong Library Cool Cool Cinema" from July 15 to July 31, screening movies in the Media Hall (B1) every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Dalseong Library (Director Jung Hyeonho) screens family-friendly movies rated for all audiences every Sunday at 2 p.m. in the multipurpose lecture room, allowing anyone to attend. On the last Wednesday of July at 3 p.m., the library will host a screening of a historical film to mark Culture Day.
The Samgukyusa Gunwi Library (Director Hong Jonga) will hold the "Legendary Hometown 2025: The Day Even Ghosts Don't Want to Go to Work" movie screening event from July 29 to July 31, every day from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the third-floor audiovisual room. Admission is free for everyone, making it a place for generations to create summer memories and connect with each other.
Kim Chilgu, Director of the 2·28 Memorial Student Library, stated, "During the peak of the summer heat, the library is serving not just as a learning space but as a shelter that protects the minds and health of citizens," and added, "As the hot weather continues, I hope everyone can spend a relaxing time with books in the cool library."
Meanwhile, the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education has designated the period until September 30 as the heat wave response period and is implementing comprehensive measures focusing on four key tasks: forming and operating an emergency response team, strengthening student safety education, improving the educational environment, and flexibly adjusting and operating the academic schedule.
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