Abstract

This study analyzed the trends and current status in public libraries in Korea for 14 years, focusing on the overview and facilities of public libraries using public library statistics from 2007 to 2020. The research data were collected from the National Library Statistics System and compared with the population and GDP per capita of Korea. As a result, the number of public libraries in Korea is 1,172 as of 2020, which has nearly doubled compared to 2007, and it was found that this increase has a very strong correlation with GDP per capita and population. There were 229 contracting out public libraries operating by the local government in 2020, and the contracting out rate increased from 18.8% in 2007 to 25.1%. Although the site area of ​​public libraries varies greatly from library to library, it tends to get larger over time. The total floor area of public libraries operating by the Office of Education is larger than that of public libraries operating by the local government, and it gradually increases over time, but the total floor area of public libraries operating by the local government have decreased slightly. The total number of seats in the library is decreasing in all libraries, and the reading seats for children and the reading seats for the elderly and the disabled tend to slightly increase.