Young children in a library read books with their family members while crawling or rolling over the floor warmed by an ondol under-floor heating system.
Some people are reading books under the shade of the trees in the garden. Others are taking part in interesting cultural activities or watching a short theater play.
This is the Dobong Miracle Library in Dobong-gu District, in northern Seoul. All the furniture and equipment at the library, including chairs, desks, bookshelves and even the toilets, were designed in consideration of toddlers' smaller body sizes and movement patterns, as people younger than three may prefer crawling rather than sitting on a chair.
The library's collection has about 20,000 books in various genres for children, ranging across literature, history, nature, science, the environment, geography, picture books and even comic books. Its facilities include reading rooms that target each class of visitors: infants, toddlers, children, teenagers and, finally, adults. The library also has outdoor book-reading areas in the garden and a rooftop garden, as well as a nursing room and a nap room.
The library was jointly built by the non-governmental organization Citizen Action For Reading and the Dobong District government in late July this year. It is the 12th of its kind established in Korea so far.
"I hope this library can develop new reading habits and promote library use among neighborhood children, helping them to grow up healthy," said Ma Yeong Jeong, chief of the Dobong Miracle Library.
“I also hope the library can help children take pride in their neighborhoods and learn to trust adult society as they grow up, forever becoming part of their early childhood memories,” she added.
The Dobong Miracle Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends. It is closed every Tuesday. For more information, please visit its homepage. http://www.miraclelib.dobong.kr/
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Dobong Miracle Library
arete@korea.kr
Some people are reading books under the shade of the trees in the garden. Others are taking part in interesting cultural activities or watching a short theater play.
This is the Dobong Miracle Library in Dobong-gu District, in northern Seoul. All the furniture and equipment at the library, including chairs, desks, bookshelves and even the toilets, were designed in consideration of toddlers' smaller body sizes and movement patterns, as people younger than three may prefer crawling rather than sitting on a chair.
All the furniture and fixtures at the Dobong Miracle Library are designed to accommodate its elementary school- and kindergarten-aged visitors. The library also built an ondol under-floor heating system for the toddlers.
The library's collection has about 20,000 books in various genres for children, ranging across literature, history, nature, science, the environment, geography, picture books and even comic books. Its facilities include reading rooms that target each class of visitors: infants, toddlers, children, teenagers and, finally, adults. The library also has outdoor book-reading areas in the garden and a rooftop garden, as well as a nursing room and a nap room.
The reading room for children and toddlers is on the first floor of the Dobong Miracle Library.
The Dobong Miracle Library has exhibition rooms and space for special activities where children can boost their creativity and participate in various library programs.
The library was jointly built by the non-governmental organization Citizen Action For Reading and the Dobong District government in late July this year. It is the 12th of its kind established in Korea so far.
"I hope this library can develop new reading habits and promote library use among neighborhood children, helping them to grow up healthy," said Ma Yeong Jeong, chief of the Dobong Miracle Library.
“I also hope the library can help children take pride in their neighborhoods and learn to trust adult society as they grow up, forever becoming part of their early childhood memories,” she added.
The Dobong Miracle Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends. It is closed every Tuesday. For more information, please visit its homepage. http://www.miraclelib.dobong.kr/
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Dobong Miracle Library
arete@korea.kr
The Dobong Miracle Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends.
In the garden, visitors can read books while sitting on a bench or take a rest with their family members or friends.
Children can take a break in the nursery room.