Getting your fiction fix

Expat Living interviewed librarians and expats from Seoul to find where you can get your fiction and non-fiction fix. If you have more information on libraries in your area, please contact mattlamers@heraldm.com - Ed.



By Rob York and Hannah Chang



Thanks to the need for teaching materials, guides to Korean life and the simple love of reading, most expats in Seoul have no trouble finding a book store.

But what about written materials that you need for a shorter time, and don`t feel like paying full price for?

There are numerous libraries in Seoul that can meet such needs, offering a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction selections, plus magazines and other reading materials. Here are some of the most well-stocked libraries in Korea`s capital.



The National Library

of Korea

The National Library has a distinct function compared to other public libraries, as its publications and periodicals are kept for research and investigative purposes, available to those aged 16 years or older.



The drawback: Its books cannot be taken outside the library. Those willing to read inside the facilities, however, have a huge variety to choose from, with 283,600 non-fiction titles, plus 1,230 fiction works available. Furthermore, the National Library stocks 779 different magazine titles.

Some of the more well-known magazines at the National Library include Fortune, People and the Economist.

The vast majority of visitors to the National Library are Korean, though non-Koreans have been known to visit during international conventions.

For more information, visit http://www.nl.go.kr/ or call 02-788-4125.

To reach the library, take subway Line 2 to Seocho Station, leaving through Exit No. 5.



Jeongdok Public Library

At the Jeongdok Public Library there are a little more than 4,500 books in foreign languages, nearly 3,800 of which are non-fiction, and all of which may be taken out of the library`s facilities.

The library has 25 different magazine titles available for foreign visitors, including Time, Newsweek, Reader`s Digest and National Geographic.

As of early June, there are a total of 208 expats with memberships there, and library staff said they had between seven and nine foreign visitors per week on average, who mostly used the humanities, natural sciences, social science, literature and periodical sections.

To get there, take subway Line 3 to Anguk Station, leaving through exit No. 1.

For more information, visit www.jeongdoklib.go.kr/english or call (02) 2011-5729.



Namsan Library of Korea

The Namsan Library has a little more than 12,000 books in English, and more than 1,300 of among them have been purchased since 2007.

All registered members of the library can borrow books here. To register, an alien registration card is required for expats.

For foreign magazine lovers, Namsan Library offers Reader`s Digest, Newsweek, Time, Library Journal, Forbes, Fortune, the Economist and National Geographic.

The lending period for books is five books for 14 days and three magazines for 14 days.

Also, for materials other than books, members may check out two items for 14 days, including DVDs, CD-ROMs, music CDs, videos and cassette tapes.

As of early June there were 42 expats registered as members at the Namsan Library.

Library staff say foreign visitors most enjoy the foreign periodicals, as well as the reading materials in the science and nature section.

For more information, visit http://namsan.lib.seoul.kr/english or call (02) 754-7338.



National Assembly Library

The official library of Korea`s National Assembly offers about 263,680 non-fiction selections, plus about 2,000 fiction publications in English.

The library also subscribes to 1,290 English magazines, 830 of which are purchased, 80 donated, 283 exchanged and 97 entrusted.

The catch to a selection this expansive is that external borrowing is restricted to assembly members and other government officials. However, during its hours of operation, members of the public are free to use its facilities and make copies of the reading materials.

The majority of the library`s items are books related policy and legal resources for legislative support, foreign materials for legislative issues, publications from foreign think tanks for politics, economics and environment; and academic research papers, library staff said.

Of the library`s copious materials, 13 percent are English-language, and about 250 foreign readers visit monthly. Library staff report that they mostly visit the periodicals and the Latest Resources section for books.

Since last year, the library has offered multi-language legislative resources, with a convenient computer environment for foreigners using, among others, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and Arabic. Library staff said that an increasing number of foreign users enjoy the multilingual search corner.

Furthermore, the number of visitors is expected to increase because of a subway station opening June 12 on line No. 9.

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You need to register to use the library. You can register for membership via the library`s website.

When you arrive, you will be given a two-year membership card after showing your ARC. Day passes are also available.

There are 284 expats registered, staff said.

From June 3, the library has extended its opening hours. National Assembly Library opens from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. It closes on second and the fourth Saturday, and on national holidays.

To get there, take subway Line 5 to Yeouido Station, leaving through Exit No. 2.

Visit www.nanet.go.kr/english for more information.



Korea Foundation Cultural Center

The Korea Foundation Cultural Center`s library features 6,700 books in a foreign language, most of which cover Korean culture and history.

Of its English materials, the majority has been translated into English from Korean.

The KFCC library also offers 20 English magazine titles. They include Koreana, a quarterly magazine published by the KFCC introducing Korean culture, arts and history, also published in other languages including German, French, Russian, Italian, Arabian, Chinese, Japanese.

Anyone who is registered with the library can sign its books out. Currently, there are 360 foreign registered members.

To register, you should visit the KFCC`s website, after which you may visit the library from Monday-Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with an identification card and pay 10,000 won for the registration fee.

The majority of foreign visitors are members of the KFCC`s free Korean language classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to KFCC staff.

Foreign officials from the embassies are also regular visitors.

Expats primarily enjoy the Korean language textbooks, as well as reading materials related to Korean arts during the Goryeo and Joseon periods.

To get there, take subway line 2 to City Hall Station, leaving through exit No. 9.

For more information, visit http://library.kfcenter.or.kr or call (02) 2151-6506.



Yongsan Library

The Yongsan Library has a little less than 4,300 books available, a little more than half of which are fiction. It also offers six English magazine titles, including Newsweek, Readers` Digest and Time.

Library staff say there are 89 registered members who are expats. Most of its foreign visitors enjoy the section on languages, particularly for learning Korean.

Also, for expats and multi-ethnic families, Yongsan Library offers Korean language classes twice a week at 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Lifelong Education Center on the fifth floor.

The library accepts up to 30 people per class, and you can register to take the class anytime from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the library.

The library will start offering Korean culture classes, such as making Korean furniture and cooking Korean food from Sept. 12 to Nov. 14.

Yongsan Library has a handful of regular foreign visitors, most of whom visit the section on languages, particularly for learning Korean.

For more information visit http://yongsanlib.go.kr or call (02) 754-2569.



Seodaemun-gu Library

The Seodaemun-gu library offers 218 English books, 100 of which are for children.

Among its 10 monthly foreign visitors, library staff report that the children`s picture books are especially popular.

Registered users can borrow up to three books and three past-dated periodicals for two weeks at a time. Books can be reserved through the library website.

For more information, visit http://eng.sdmlib.go.kr or call (02) 396-3157.

To get there, take subway Line 3 to Honjae Station, leaving through exit No. 3.

For more information on libraries, visit http://lib.seoul.go.kr



(rjamesyork@heraldm.com)

(hannahchang123@hotmail.com)