'One Membership Card' for Free Access to 216 Libraries Across Gyeonggi Province

The 'Book Together Service,' which allows users to access all public libraries nationwide with a single membership card, has expanded to 216 public libraries across Gyeonggi Province starting from the 1st.

Sixty public libraries and 30 small libraries belonging to seven cities—Yongin, Ansan, Hwaseong, Paju, Gimpo, Pocheon, and Hanam—recently completed system installation and launched the Book Together Service as of today.

Consequently, the libraries available through the Book Together Service have increased from 126 public libraries in 14 municipalities last year to 216 libraries in 21 municipalities this year.

The Book Together Service is a service that allows users to freely use all public libraries nationwide with a single membership card. In Gyeonggi Province, the service first started in 2014 with 16 libraries in three municipalities.

Gyeonggi Province has received 150 million won in national funding this year and plans to establish systems in 50 additional libraries, including those in Gwangju, Yangpyeong, Yangju, and Uiwang, so the number of service-supported libraries is expected to increase to 266 by next year.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is also expanding the Book Together Service to approximately 930 public libraries nationwide, and the province forecasts that by 2018, all public libraries across the nation will be accessible with a single membership card.

Information about participating libraries in the nationwide Book Together Service and usage methods can be found on the Book Together Service website (libraryone.nl.go.kr).