Abstract

The libraries that existed during the latter period of the Yi Dynasty may be categorized into four types: the royal library, the school library, the clan community library, and the private library. Of these, the clan community library has yet received very little attention in the study of Korean libraries. In this study the author discusses the purposes, functions, and collections of the clan community library to clarify what that particular type of old libraries in Korea was. The clan community library functioned within individual clan communities to give young people Korean traditional education protecting them from possible influences of. Japanese version of Western scholarship which had threatened the traditional value systems of the society. The author believes that the clan community library was a unique community institution created by Korean people, and the Korean public library movement should trace its origin back to the activities of the libraries. Unfortunately the growing suppression and control of the Japanse colonial regime upon the traditional schools made the purposes and development of the clan community library movement a tragic experience before its flowering. The clan community library was a Korean native public library which came out in response to a historical situation and community need. It may deserve more attention in future study of the national library movement of Korea.