Abstract

The purpose of this research is to document the current state of ‘One Book, One City’ community reading campaign (Hereafter called ‘One Book’ reading campaign), launched in 2003 in Korea, and the characteristics of the selected books. For this research, the homepages, news and reports of a total of 1,170 public libraries and their local government, and several major institutions and organizations related to reading and culture were analyzed with the research method of content analysis and literature review. Also, online catalogs of the National Library of Korea and the National Library for Children and Young Adults were examined to identify the characteristics of 729 titles and 1,179 volumes of books selected in 57 ‘One Book’ programs, as of 2021. The analysis of 57 ‘One Book’ programs and those selected books shows the selection of more than one books in different age groups in more and more ‘One Book’ programs, lack of consistency in themes of those selected books, and preference for young adult books, new publications and bestselling novels. This trend has weakened individual ‘One Book’ programs’ concentration on one book or one subject, but helped invite a diverse group of people with various interests. More in-depth analysis and explanation of the process of book selection and its appropriateness with the stated goals of ‘One Book’ programs are needed.