Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang: "Turning the Entire City into One Vast Library"
Sowing the Seeds of Reading at Daegok Station... A New Leap Forward for Chaeknuri
Goyang City’s Grand Movement of 1.3 Million Books... The Miracle of 5,274 Books a Day
12 Years of Chaeknuri and 37 Service Hubs... Expanding the Reading Network
Collective Name for Interlibrary Loan, Integrated Return, and Unmanned Book Return at Subway Stations
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) is lowering the barriers to reading in daily life for its citizens through the "Chaeknuri service," which connects municipal libraries and subway stations into one vast reading network.
According to Goyang Special City on February 28, as of 2025, the cumulative annual number of borrowed books has reached an impressive 1.3 million, meaning an average of 5,274 books circulate throughout the city each day in the hands of citizens. Now in its twelfth year, the Chaeknuri service is Goyang City's unique reading infrastructure, covering interlibrary loan, integrated return, and unmanned book return at subway stations.
Goyang City is expanding its reading lifestyle network through the Chaeknuri service. Photo by Goyang City
Expansion of Interlibrary Loan Service to Seven Public Small Libraries
The core of the Chaeknuri service, "interlibrary loan," is a system where, if the book a user wants is not available at their usual library, materials from other municipal libraries are delivered to a library near the user's residence.
In particular, since June of last year, the service was rapidly expanded to include seven public small libraries such as Gwansan, Naeyu, and Daedeok. This expansion allowed residents in areas with previously limited access to libraries to freely use the extensive resources of 17 municipal libraries. As a result, the service has achieved a practical effect, recording an average daily usage of over 200 books since implementation.
The interlibrary loan service enables users to access materials from other municipal libraries when the resources they want are not available at their primary library, delivering them to the desired location. It provides the convenience of using materials scattered across multiple libraries as if they were all in one place.
The integrated return service allows users to return borrowed books at any Goyang municipal library, regardless of where they borrowed them. Additionally, by using unmanned book return boxes installed at subway stations, books can be conveniently returned at any time, 24 hours a day.
Last year, to accommodate the growing volume of books and ensure stable service, the overall Chaeknuri infrastructure was significantly enhanced. The number of personnel dedicated to book collection and delivery was increased to seven, and the addition of electric vehicles brought the fleet to four, which now circulate throughout Goyang City to deliver books. Furthermore, to improve the efficiency of book sorting and loading, the work space was expanded by approximately 1.7 times, from 119 square meters (about 36 pyeong) to 199 square meters (about 60 pyeong).
Particularly, since June of last year, the interlibrary loan service was expanded to include seven public small libraries.
As a result, even at small libraries in Gwansan, Naeyu, Daedeok, Sarihyun, Hwajeon, Masang Park, and Modang Park, residents can freely access the resources of 17 municipal libraries. The range of book choices for residents in areas with limited access has greatly expanded, and since implementation, the service has shown substantial effectiveness in resource sharing, with an average daily usage of over 200 books.
Unmanned Book Return Box to Be Added at Daegok Station in March... Efforts to Raise Awareness of Chaeknuri Service
This year, the Chaeknuri service will focus on expanding subway station services and strengthening publicity that resonates with citizens, based on operational experience and citizen demand accumulated so far.
In March, the 13th unmanned book return box will be installed at Daegok Station, creating an environment where citizens using the subway can return books more conveniently. As Daegok Station is a major transportation hub where Line 3, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Seohae Line, and GTX-A intersect and has a high daily flow of people, active book returns are anticipated.
In addition, in response to the renovation of aging facilities at Jichuk Station that began in August of last year, the unmanned book return box was relocated to the Hyangdong Administrative Welfare Center. This measure aims to ensure that citizens can continue to use the Chaeknuri service without inconvenience during the construction period.
The remaining unmanned book return boxes at subway stations are installed at Daehwa, Juyeop, Madu, Baekseok, Hwajeong, Wondang, Wonheung, and Samsong Stations on Line 3, as well as Ilsan, Baekma, and Haengsin Stations on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.
Meanwhile, a promotional video content highlighting the process of book collection, sorting, and delivery for the Chaeknuri service will be produced, and promotional efforts using the rear of vehicles will be strengthened to further enhance citizens' understanding and awareness of how books are delivered.
Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "Just as the name suggests, meaning 'enjoying books together widely,' we will strive to enhance accessibility so that citizens can use libraries anytime and anywhere, and to create a reading environment where people can grow together with books."
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