Hwaseong City Launches '2024 Reading at 50+' Program from May 7

[Suwon Ilbo=Lee Su-won Reporter] Hwaseong City announced that it will launch the 2024 'Reading at 50+' program starting May 7 to promote reading culture among middle-aged and elderly residents.

'Reading at 50+' is a program that presents book bundles to Hwaseong City residents aged 50 and older who participate in the 'I Recommend This Book' challenge at 19 municipal libraries, where they introduce one book they wish to recommend to fellow citizens aged 50 and above.

The book bundle consists of one 2024 'Reading at 50+' selected title, a 50+ recommended book list booklet, a portable reading magnifier, and a foldable bag.

This year's selected titles are △"Women Who Tore Through Canvas" (Lee Yu-ri, Hankyoreh Publishing) △"No One Gives Me Living Expenses" (Lee Jong-eun, California Press) △"[Large Print Edition] Ten Thoughts on Life" (Lee Hae-in, Maum-sanchaek).

Residents can visit their nearest municipal library with a household registration certificate issued within the past three months and a library membership card, complete the reading challenge form available at the library, and submit it to receive the book bundle.

Additionally, each library will operate curated collections featuring 60 books recommended by librarians for 'Reading at 50+' including this year's selected titles, and 60 books recommended by 50+ citizens from the previous year.

Reading programs linked with 'Reading at 50+' will also operate. In the first half of the year, programs include △'Meeting the Author' featuring the selected 'Reading at 50+' title at Dongtan Complex Culture Center Library △'50+ Humanities Chat Hour' at Bongdam Library △'Writing to Fill Myself' at Songlin Eum-teo Library △'My Scent in Picture Books' at Yangbaepurun-sup Library △'50+ Youth Book Club' at Yangbaepurun-sup Library.

In the second half, programs scheduled include △'Reading 50+ with Reading' at Namyang Library △'Second Life Through Reading' at Byeongjeom Library △'Book Love Reading Club Session 4' at Taean Library △'Humanities Lecture Series' at Central Eum-teo Library △'Time to Know My Whole Self' and 'Healing Time for Me_How to Age Joyfully' at Dawon Eum-teo Library.

All Hwaseong City residents aged 50 and over are eligible to participate. Detailed program information and schedules can be found by contacting the relevant library or visiting the Hwaseong City Library homepage (www.hscitylib.or.kr).

Yun Jung-ja, Chief of the Library Policy Division, stated, "We wish to support reading among Hwaseong City residents aged 50 and over through the 2024 'Reading at 50+' program," and added, "We hope that many citizens will participate this year to share the joy of reading together and have this opportunity to prepare for a healthy second half of life through reading."