• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.293-314
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• 2013

This study intended to support the effective operation of libraries by suggesting measures to resolve the problems of small libraries that experience operational difficulties caused by lack of expertise. To achieve this, the study selected 22 small libraries among the nationwide small libraries by grades, types, and users, and then conducted interviews with their operating staffs. Based on the findings of the study, certain library facilitation measures were suggested, including the provision of incentives for librarian certificate holders, the free distribution of book management programs and their training, regular book supply policies of local governments, differential supports for operation evaluation, the establishment of user service guidelines, and cooperations with public libraries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.71-95
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• 2020

In Gyeonggi-do(province), where the largest number of small libraries are located in Korea, 42% of small libraries are located in apartment complexes. However, as libraries established under legal obligations are managed and operated on voluntary will, there have been numerous ongoing cases of temporary closure or permanent shut down. To revitalize small libraries in apartment complexes, it is reasonable to seek ways to revitalize them through the role of the central point of the village community in the complex. To that end, this study surveyed the current status of small libraries in Gyeonggi-do, a survey of small library operators and related persons in apartment housing complexes and similar residential communities in Gyeonggi-do and 31 cities and counties. Based on this, this study was intended to derive practical measures to revitalize the operation and preservation of small libraries in such residential communities. Four goals were set to improve community awareness of small libraries, cultivate self-operating abilities, improve laws and systems, and strengthen support for local governments. Research needs to be carried out not only for small libraries in apartment complexes in Gyeonggi-do but also for the continued development of other small private libraries.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.429-448
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• 2008

The number of public libraries is not good enough in Korea. The main reasons why there are not many libraries are: the lack of people's recognition of necessity and importance of public libraries, stingy investment by the central and local governments for building public libraries, and no policy on effective building of public libraries. Now, there should be a policy on building and operating small-size public libraries that the developed country adopts. Redevelopment of local areas and reconstruction of old apartment complex are the best chance of building small-size libraries in those areas. The apartment complex in which this study took place is going to be reconstructed in the near future. A small-size library can be built with a district office and a post-office as a multi-complex building. Building a small-size library with public institutions or business buildings in the place of redevelopment of local areas and reconstruction of old apartment complex is one of the best solution of solving the lack of public libraries in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.121-158
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to propose the developmental direction for small libraries based on a set of various situational analysis of small libraries in Seoul. By analyzing the operational status of the autonomous regions of different operating methods, we also pursued qualitative enhancement of small libraries by autonomous district by proposing optimized operation methods. As a consequence of the study, it was analyzed that the public and private libraries need to be distinguished in consideration of the characteristics of operation according to the operating entity rather than uniform budget support and guidance management. That is, the small libraries scattered throughout Seoul were founded by the principal of their establishment for the purpose of providing knowledge information and reading culture service within the public activity area. Therefore, if Seoul intervenes and manages under the current situation, where the libraries are operating independently in accordance with the purpose of establishment, regardless of whether they meet the user requirements or not in terms of quality or quantity, various problems may be caused. In this background, it seems appropriate to restrict the library management in line with relevant regulations.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.409-434
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• 2023

A small library can be used as a place of cultural communication and educational experience for members of the local community that can fill the gaps of public libraries. In this study, the motives of users of small libraries were investigated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 users of small libraries, and their perceptions from their experiences were classified into four categories, 'attention', 'relevance', 'confidence', and 'satisfaction', and each factor was investigated. Small libraries showed that effective analysis, management, and design of factors related to the four motive classifications could further improve the opportunities of local community residents to find small libraries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.157-175
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• 2020

This study aimed to understand why small libraries, which have been continuously extended by the increase of social interest in them and the enactment of 「Promotion of Small Library Act」, an independent law about small libraries, are poorly activated. To this end, it examined the actual status of small library operation, related policies, support and legislations. By summarizing the results, it proposed a policy direction and tasks for activating small libraries. The policy tasks for activating them consist of three main tasks such as 'the improvement of laws and institutions for establishing the base of policies and securing practical momentum', 'the reestablishment of roles by policy units and the reinforcement of cooperation systems' and 'the construction of stable operation support system for small libraries', and their 14 sub-tasks, under the vision of 'the activation of small libraries support local residents' happy life' and the core value of 'a comprehensive policy ground, the innovation of policy systems and sustainable management support'.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.203-221
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• 2011

This study attempts to investigate the current stage of collection development process in small libraries through case study to eleven small libraries in Yeongnam region. Library collection is the primary element of a library and collection development is the starting point of librarians' duty. The researcher recognized the problems observed in collection development process in the case small libraries and discovered the widespread obstacles restraining the future development. Through the visits and observations, aging book collections, lack of diversity in the form of materials acquired, imbalance in subject distribution, and the imbalance in circulation are identified. Suggestions are to be added: collection development duty can not be fulfilled without proper support by local governments. While small libraries penetrate into peoples' territory, Public libraries should seek to enhance and improve their service orientation as well as a cooperative network with these small libraries.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-119
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest strategies to improve and revitalize public small libraries established and operated by local governments among small libraries in Yangpyeong-gun. For this purpose, basic factors to be considered for the analysis of the current situation were derived by examining the policies and prior studies of small libraries. Based on these factors, the operation status of the public small libraries were analyzed, and interviews were conducted with the itinerant libertarians and staffs. As a result of the analysis, the main problems were the deterioration of a building, the lack of manpower and expertise, and the collection and program that did not reflect regional characteristics. In this study, we suggested a revitalization strategy such as improvement of the operating system, development of community-focused life-friendly libraries, reinforcement of manpower and expertise, development of book collections and reading culture programs with regional specialization, and establishment of community networks.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.25-46
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• 2021

This study proposed the improvement in the evaluation systems and indicators of small libraries, by analyzing the evaluation indicators of the current small libraries, domestic and foreign ones and domestic other institutions, and gathering opinions from managers of them and experts belonging to related groups, in order to enhance the management quality of small libraries and strengthen the independence of them, based on the evaluation on the activation and substantiality of them. The evaluation systems proposed by this study is divided into Track 1 evaluating small libraries and Track 2 evaluating local governments. The evaluation indicators of small libraries was simplified by eliminating the indicators found from the statistics of Track 1 (small libraries). Track 1 consists of three evaluation areas in regard to the management of small libraries, such as library management, infrastructures and services, 8 evaluation items, 10 evaluation indicators, quantitative (a total of 100 points) and qualitative (a total of 120 points) evaluation. Track 2 consists of 2 evaluation areas in regard to the establishment and enforcement of small library policies and the support for small libraries, such as library management and infrastructures, 4 evaluation items, 5 evaluation indicators and quantitative evaluation (a total of 100 points).

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.77-98
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• 2010

Recently, small libraries have greatly increased by the support and interest of the central, or local government. Since 2004, 47 small libraries were established in Jeon-buk province. These libraries are equipping a new facility and collection with their support. Nevertheless, they still have many problems in operating process. This is causing degradation of the quality level of information service for local residents, further, this becomes the obstacle which solves a information divide and improves the cultural welfare. The purpose of this study is to analyze the status of small libraries in Jeon-buk province, and then, to propose solutions to problems.