Gyeonggi Province Builds "One Book Per Resident" Collections at Public Libraries

Gyeonggi Province will allocate 55 billion won for public library materials in the first half of this year to secure one book per resident in the province.

The province previously achieved 10 million volumes in library holdings in September last year, recording a per-capita collection rate of 0.86 books.

As of the end of 2005, the per-capita collection rates across 16 provinces and cities nationwide are as follows: Seoul 0.6, Busan 0.73, Daegu 0.81, Incheon 0.66, Gwangju 1.01, Daejeon 1.11, Ulsan 0.58, Gangwon 1.82, North Chungcheong 1.06, South Chungcheong 1.33, North Jeolla 1.12, South Jeolla 1.57, North Gyeongsang 1.26, South Gyeongsang 1.03, and Jeju 2.18.

In addition, the province plans to invest 317.6 billion won to complete 21 libraries including the Goyang Jeongbalsan Library by next year and complete an additional 23 libraries by 2008, securing a total of 150 public libraries.

Furthermore, by 2010, the province plans to establish 35 additional small libraries by utilizing vacant spaces in existing public facilities, increasing the ratio of public libraries from the current one library per 130,000 residents to one per 80,000 residents.

Additionally, next year the province will designate a "flagship library" to establish basic library policies considering Gyeonggi Province's characteristics and to support and facilitate cooperation among libraries within the province. The flagship library will lead staff training and develop specialized programs to guide other libraries.

A provincial official stated, "We will raise library infrastructure to the nation's highest level and further advance library services to lead the development of public libraries nationwide."