Kookmin University partners with Seongbuk Foundation, local universities to boost reading culture

Kookmin University's Seonggok Library has forged a significant partnership with the Seongbuk Culture Foundation and four other universities in the Seongbuk district: Korea University, Dongduk Women's University, Sungshin Women's University, and Hansung University. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on August 1st, aims to expand humanities knowledge and promote reading culture within the local community.

This initiative is designed to leverage the academic and human resources of the participating universities, fostering a connection between these institutions and the broader community. By linking university libraries with public library infrastructure, the program seeks to offer a diverse range of knowledge and cultural activities to residents. Key areas of cooperation include jointly planning and operating humanities and reading programs, integrating university expertise with public library resources, and increasing student involvement in community-based activities.

Kookmin University plans to utilize this partnership to connect its faculty and students with the community, developing humanities and cultural programs, as well as student-led initiatives. This aligns with the university's broader goals under the Seoul RISE (Regional Innovation System and Education) project, which emphasizes strengthening regional ties, sharing resources, and fostering collaboration. The university anticipates that this MOU will significantly expand its cooperative framework for connecting educational and cultural assets with the local community.

Seonggok Library's commitment to excellence in library services is well-documented. In 2023, it achieved the top position in the specialization index among approximately 60 universities in Group A during the "University Library Evaluation." Furthermore, in 2024, it received the Excellence Award in Specialization at the "2024 National University Library Conference," recognizing its continuous achievements in library innovation and community engagement.

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Through this agreement, an opportunity has been created to share the expertise and resources that universities possess with the local community. We will discover knowledge and cultural programs that local residents can easily participate in, and continuously expand cooperation between universities and the local community.