Have you ever imagined that libraries, originally a place for checking out materials and books, can become a place of creativity and exploration for young people with the introduction of innovative technology? Or to participate in a variety of innovative service programs in community libraries to connect with readers in the community, or to experience the joy of lifelong learning and enjoy the never-ending journey of knowledge in libraries?
2024 ASIA-PACIFIC PUBLIC LIBRARY FORUM （APPLF）services in perspective’ invited librarians from Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia to share their innovations and achievements in library services, and how they have broken through the stereotypes of traditional libraries and attracted more patrons to visit their libraries to experience the diversified charms of reading and culture.
Creative base National Library of Korea Children's and Young Adult Library Services
Yoo Kyung Choi, Deputy Director of the Children’s, and Youth Library of the National Library of Korea introduced how they use innovative technology to provide more diverse library services. There are two creative spaces, “Space Hope” and “Space Imagination,” which provide digital equipment, convenient creative resources and learning opportunities for young people to create web comics.
“Space Hope” is a space designed specifically for webcomic creation, equipped with webcomic digital drawing boards, VR equipment, and offers courses for those who wish to become webcomic artists and VR experts. These courses not only teach techniques, but also encourage the development of creative thinking and help young people turn their imagination into concrete works. Spatial Imagination is a personal media studio equipped with green screens and webcams, allowing children to experience and learn about the various processes of media production.
Yoo Kyung Choi emphasized that these innovative facilities are designed to attract young readers and nurture their creative interests and digital skills. She said that libraries are not only storage places for books and knowledge, but also centers of creativity and education, allowing children to explore and learn freely in these spaces.
One of the most successful examples is the 3D printing application, in which young people create their own artworks through the 3D modelling and printing technology courses offered by the library, thus stimulating their interest in technology and creativity. These classes are not limited to technical instruction, but rather focus on developing creative thinking and critical thinking skills so that youth can learn how to solve real-world problems through hands-on experience.
In Taiwan, libraries also have similar views and practices. Since its establishment, the National Public Information Library has been providing a variety of services for young people, such as the ‘Young Library’ on the 5th floor and the interactive small space ‘Thinking House’. Through the utilization of space and resources, as well as the participation in exhibitions and activities, the library highlights the creativity and vitality of young people. In recent years, the National Central Library（NCL） has also set up a Multimedia Creative Experiment Centre in Ximending, which is popular among young people. The Centre provides 3D printing, a platform for creating online comics, a recording studio for podcasting, a band practice room, a sewing room, a carpentry classroom, and so on, in the hope of establishing a platform for diversified creative exchanges and interactions among the young people, which shows that fostering the creativity and imagination of the next generation is an important issue for the public library nowadays.
The key to becoming connected the National Library of Vietnam's innovative community services
The National Library of Vietnam（NLV） has injected innovative ideas into community services. Trần Thị Phương Lan, Director of the National Library of Vietnam, highlighted that through digital services and the establishment of a multimedia space, the library has provided patrons with access to rich learning resources and opportunities for self-learning, as well as Internet and space facilities for patrons to search digital databases for more in-depth learning and research, thus increasing the utilization rate and quality of services.
In addition, a special ‘Digital Reading Space’ has been set up where readers can retrieve many e-books and digital databases free of charge. Trần Thị Phương Lan stressed that the professional and digitalized services of libraries have not only facilitated readers, but also promoted the wide dissemination of information, allowing readers to have more opportunities to connect with the international community, as Vietnam has been developing rapidly in recent years.
In addition to promoting digitalization and making it easy for readers to connect with foreign countries, the NLV also actively promotes community involvement and aims to build readers' awareness of reading by organizing a wide range of community activities, such as book clubs, lectures, and workshops, which appeal to residents of all ages. These activities not only enhance interaction and understanding among community members, but also increase the library's influence in the community. trần Thị Phương Lan believes that libraries play a key role in promoting social progress and technological development. By providing rich learning resources and diverse activities, libraries have become the center of culture and education in the community, and the standard and quality of library services have been continuously improved.
Despite the NLV's efforts to promote reading, Trần Thị Phương Lan also shared the current problems encountered, such as the under-construction infrastructure, which limits the library's ability to provide internet services, or the lack of budget to support the newly added services and equipment, as well as the room for improvement in the knowledge and skills of some of the staff. The library looks forward to overcoming these challenges in the future and moving towards a ‘traditional-modern-digital’ library model that creates a friendly and innovative reading environment and strives to be the center of lifelong learning in the community. At the same time, the library is also striving to achieve standardization, sharing and integration of services, and expanding international co-operation to enhance the quality of technical and professional activities. participation in the APPLF sharing and learning is an important milestone in stepping out of the country.
Being a driver of sustainability National Library of Malaysia promotes core competency development
The National Library of Malaysia （NLM） is committed to promoting lifelong learning and sustainable development. In the hope that reading, and comprehension will become core competencies of citizens in the coming generations, the NLM has formulated the ‘10-Year Reading for All Plan’, which combines digital technology and online resources to develop age-segregated reading promotional activities, with a view to rearising the goal of reading for all by 2030. These activities not only cultivate the habit of reading for all, but also enable more people to access learning resources anytime, anywhere through the Internet and digital technology.
NLM also actively collaborates with the community and businesses to organise a wide range of cross-domain activities. For example, a series of lectures and workshops have been organised in collaboration with local businesses, attracting many residents. The collaboration has enriched the library's activities and increased its influence and recognition in the community.
Katrun Nada binti Haji Hashim, Director of the NLM, stressed that libraries have played a key role in promoting the reading culture, especially the reading promotion programs for children and teenagers, which have achieved remarkable results. She said the library would continue to enhance its service quality through innovation and co-operation for the overall development of the society.
Libraries' endeavour to promote reading is in line with the 2014 Lyon Manifesto of the International Library Association （IFLA）, which states that “Increasing access to information and knowledge, based on universal literacy and literacy, is a key pillar in supporting sustainable development and improving people's lives.” The declaration emphasises that giving readers access to information and skills positively improves the quality of life while supporting sustainable development. Individuals, societies, and nations with immediate access to information are better placed to tackle poverty and inequality, provide quality education, and support health, culture, research, and innovation, among other indicators of sustainable development.
Public libraries promote reading by organising activities or cooperating with many organisations, how do they carry out their diverse and heavy business? Yoo Kyung Choi shared that most of the operations are still planned and executed by the libraries, while some of the more specialised techniques are entrusted to professional organisations, and the outreach to young students is carried out by means of official notification to schools, so that interested students can come and participate. Katrun Nada binti Haji Hashim said that a quality and professional team is the key to inter-unit collaboration, and that the friendships and relationships that are built through good co-operation are a bonus to the goals of the co-operation and become the cornerstone of public relations in libraries.
Public libraries' new duties continuing to provide innovative and diversified services
Innovation and promotion of library services knows no boundaries, whether it is NLKC's innovative facilities and technological applications that foster creative thinking and technical skills among young readers; NLV's use of multimedia spaces and digital reading services that enhance library usage and quality of service; or NLM's reading for all programs and digital technology applications that spread information far and wide.
Public libraries not only focus on innovation in technology and facilities, but more importantly understand and actively promote community participation and cooperation to enhance the impact and recognition of libraries and root the core values of libraries in promoting reading and knowledge dissemination among patrons.
Public libraries in three countries, namely Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia, have been making continuous efforts in digitalisation, innovative services and sustainable development. The exchange and sharing at the Forum not only provided valuable reference materials for public libraries, but also demonstrated the important roles of libraries as centers of knowledge and facilitators of social development in modern societies.
Enhancing services in the temple of knowledge contributing to the development of society
In promoting sustainable development and lifelong learning, modern public libraries play a key role in promoting digitisation and optimal management to ensure that everyone can enjoy the various conveniences and services provided by libraries, thus contributing positively to the overall development of the society. Now that we have entered the era of technology, public libraries will continue to innovate and adapt to innovative technologies in the future to provide better services so that more people can benefit from the knowledge and cultural resources brought by libraries.
