During my family vacation in Seoul recently, I visited the new Starfield Coex Mall at Suwon, I found central to the many branded departmental stores, there is an ambient public library with floor to ceiling book shelves. It is not only grand in size, but also its scale of collection of approximately 70,000 books that vary in genre as humanities, economics, and literature, etc. I sighted close to about 600 magazines, domestic & foreign, are available for browsing. I sat down with a cup of hot coffee at one corner at the library for an immense reading.
It is the most beautiful and captivating library in Seoul that features an enormous 13-meter tall book shelves in a huge open public space of 2,800 square meter atrium. I saw many students doing research work either referring to the books from the shelves or via its online library facilities and busy working on their laptops. (//english.visitseoul.net)
Throughout time, libraries have supported education and played a key role in literacy dissemination. Libraries ensure the provision of educational materials, collections of books, electronic resources, periodicals, multimedia materials, referral services, etc. In 1994, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) & the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) defined public libraries as the source of information and knowledge.
Librarians encourage parents to engage, read and learn together with their children using five practices crucial to literacy development: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. Many libraries are remodelling their children's areas to provide space for family interaction. Parents are encouraged to “take time bring their children to the public libraries”.
I discovered from the treasure of readings at this public Starfield Library that during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the whole world witnessed the industrial revolution, which had a powerful impact on all aspects of human lives. Since then, people have been facing unstoppable challenges in education, social, economic and environmental changes. The most outstanding breakthrough was achieved in both science and technology fields. Therefore, innovative and advanced education systems have attracted more attention. (Eagleton, 2017)
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