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Staff Reporter
On May 25th, The National Digital Library will open in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul, the first such repository in the world. With more than 380,000 digitalized books and 116 million pieces of digital content, the eight-story 38,014 square-meter-large building is expected to attract both domestic and international attention.
``There are online libraries where people can log on at home or offices to enjoy reading books. There are offline libraries for reading paperback books where online content is just a section. However, I can surely say our library will be the first and the largest `physical' space to deal with online contents only,'' Mo Chul-min, director of the library, said.
The space has a multiplicity of devices that will help people find their way to ``information.'' Six hundred and twenty six computers are available for people to search got information or read electronic books, better known as e-books. There are hundreds of more seats for people to rent notebook computers from the main desk or to bring their own laptops and log into the library's main server and access data using wireless Internet connections.
Flat screen kiosks are set up at major points to introduce facilities, newly added books and to help people reserve seats and computers. There are both video and audio recording studios, where visitors can try out making their own user created contents (UCC), editing them and uploading them onto the Internet.
``We hope the devices are not used to show off, but to promote our spirit ― everyone can have equal access to all information and can even create it,'' Mo said.
He said the digital space is equipped with various devices that current libraries don't have. There are satellite TVs with touch screens as well as 24 computers operating in foreign languages such as English, French, Vietnamese and others. The so-called Multi Culture Zone will attract foreigners who haven't really had a taste of Korea's information and technology strength he added.
``Here, the Windows systems are all encoded in foreign languages and visitors can use them. Even the keyboards do not have Korean characters,'' Lee Shin-ho, a library official, said.
There is a space for disabled people, too. Screen readers and other devices to help out visually challenged people or those with physical disabilities have been installed and all desks and chairs are designed with control levels for them.
``We really welcome anyone, everyone and all people who love to read,'' Mo said.
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Mo admitted that at this point, one of the library's main functions of collecting books is faltering mainly because of copyright problems. ``We are planning to add more than 430,000 books annually, but it is a challenge,'' he said.
He added that instead, the dibrary is focusing on collecting information online. It isn't all just articles posted on blogs or Web sites often listed as ``information,'' but will be assessed according to several standards: whether the information can benefit many people; whether it is necessary; and whether it worth saving for a long time.
Some ``historical and worth remembering'' Web sites such as the Home page of President Lee Myung-bak's election campaign are stored by the organization's OASIS computing program. ``It is worthwhile for people who will be studying the event in the future and others who are curious about Korean history, though it is closed now.''
Also, the library has joined hands with national and public libraries as well as academic circles in other countries and has created a huge database. By logging on to its Web site, www.nld.go.kr, one can have access to information from 470 domestic organizations and schools as well as 700 international ones. They are mostly open sources at the moment, but Mo is planning to add exclusive ones through signing memorandum of understanding.
The content rental service is also expected to be available for those who have understanding in copyright issues. The contents are printable for 60 won per page at the library.
``I say there is no barrier between offline and online contents anymore. You can do whatever you want to do with the information as long as it is not illegal,'' Mo said.
However, the dibrary seems to have a huge problem ahead ― competing with the e-Book providers. When the National Assembly passed a bill to oblige all online contents to be turned into the library, businessmen said the project would dry out the industry with no one will willing to ``buy'' contents when they can get everything for free.
The head of the library admits the problem. ``Yes, it is something that we have to take consideration into. For a very long time, Korea had a great opportunity to develop the market, but now we are a bit behind,'' he said, explaining that copyright or piracy problems have lingered on in Korea for too long.
Comparing the wide market in the United States stemming from Amazon.com's e-book reader Kindle that has proliferated not only the online book market but offline, too, the market here is expected to mark a mere 50 billion won, far smaller than anyone expected.
Therefore, Mo said e-book companies will be more of a partner, not competitors. ``Since we have huge copyright problem, it will be quite tough for us to carry every book into the library while the e-book providers can buy every copyright. We can draw people's attraction toward the book and e-book providers can fulfill them,'' he said.
Will this digital library save Koreans from ``intellectual lethargy,'' where people hate to read books as many local newspapers say?
``It will be both yes and no,'' Mo said. ``I don't think Koreans hate to read books. They rather turn to lighter issues than talking about heavy philosophy and others. I hope the library will get people to open their eyes to the world of books and the world of information once again,'' he said.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
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