Kookmin University’s (KMU) Sungkok Library has been reborn based on a new concept in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era. Sungkok Library reopened on the 15th of this month after its remodelling. The changes brought about by COVID-19 require fundamental revisions in our lives as well as in our educational environment. As telecommuting and remote education become more common, the spaces used by individuals become increasingly special. This leads the demand for spaces that provide greater satisfaction and utility to grow. In addition, like the rise of the "Kagong-jok”, people who go to cafés to study, the preference for exclusively shared spaces is increasing. In response, KMU transformed its university library into a "composite learning culture space" where students can enjoy and experience the culture, making it more than just a space for reading books and learning. As well, it is also made to be a space that could be owned exclusively by individuals. On the first floor, which was the central lending room, 208 exhibition shelves were installed and filled with literature collections, comics, and other resources, transforming the central lending room into a user-centered cultural learning space. Various types of tables and chairs were also furnished to promote learning and resting as similar to the atmosphere of a café. By establishing an “Information Commons,” the library has increased the efficiency of dealing with the students’ needs and information utilization along with the in and out function of data. The lobby of the Sungkok Library has height-adjustable tables for students’ comfort, as well as equipping books on the latest trends. In addition, the design of the library has increased its utilization, providing students a spacious and pleasant environment, through the integrated arrangement of periodicals, reference books, and textbooks. Jae-Jun Kim, director of Sungkok Library, said, “We are providing unconventional support to foster talented people who can preemptively respond to the post-COVID-19 era and lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” He went on to add, “Through student-centered facilities and infrastructure, we are going to continue to invest in cultivating the character, intelligence, and culture of the students.”

Ji-Woo Sun
Reporter
jiwoosun25@gmail.com