Congratulations to Emily Daly from Dublin City University Library, whose blog post was highly commended in the CONUL Training and Development Library Assistant Blog Awards 2025.
A Journey That Changed How I See Libraries
When I took a five-month break to travel in Asia, I thought I was stepping away from library work. But in Seoul, surrounded by books under open skies, my idea of what a library could be began to shift. It was October, the city buzzing after Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win, when I stumbled across the Seoul Outdoor Library. Soon, I realised libraries don’t have to stay behind four walls; they can be woven into daily life. Now, in my role as a Library Assistant in the Public Services and Outreach Directorate at DCU Library, that vision continues to shape how I see our work. Outdoor libraries aren’t a novelty, but rather a powerful way to connect with the community.
Seoul Plaza: ‘Sky Gazing, Book Gazing’
I had planned to visit the Seoul Metropolitan Library, but walking through the adjacent plaza, I stumbled across something unexpected. Thousands of books filled colourful trolleys and boxes. Friends, couples, and families read and relaxed on beanbags, while others played in activity zones woven among the seating. Classical music floated from a nearby stage. Playful and open, it invited not just reading but connection and discovery.
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| 1. Readers sink into stories on pink and blue beanbags outside Seoul Metropolitan Library as evening falls. (Photograph: Author, 2024). |
A short walk away, Gwanghwamun Square unfolded beneath the gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Another 5,000 books mingled with food stalls, K-pop shows, and exhibitions. Children raced to pick books while tourists and locals browsed. It was part library, part street festival, in the heart of the city.
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| 2. Gwanghwamun Square becomes a pastel sea of beanbags and books, set against Seoul’s iconic gate and mountains. (Photograph: Author, 2024). |
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| 3. A mother and child read under a tent at Gwanghwamun Square while a tired dad sneaks a nap (Photograph: Author, 2024). |
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| 4. Seats, tables, and book boxes line Cheonggyecheon Stream, offering calm spaces to read, chat, and unwind. (Photograph: Author, 2024). |
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| 5. Couples, families, and friends share intimate moments by the stream. (Photograph: Author, 2024). |
A Library Network Woven into the City
What struck me was how seamlessly these library sites blended into public space. Though temporary and seasonal, they felt intentional, designed to meet people where they were. Each had its own mood, yet together they formed a citywide invitation to read in public. At their heart was a quiet trust: books left out for anyone to browse, linger with, and care for. That trust was met with joy and respect. Since 2022, Seoul’s outdoor libraries have welcomed over six million visitors (Park, 2025).
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| 6. Official brochure maps Seoul’s outdoor library network across city spaces. (Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2024). |
Beyond the Walls: Reimagining Libraries in the Open
Since returning home, I’ve often wondered how Seoul’s outdoor library model could work in Ireland. At DCU, our Library Strategy (2023–2028) promotes innovative services and diverse spaces which “enrich experiences and enable creativity and connectivity” (DCU Library, 2024), aligning with the university’s broader mission to “transform lives and societies” (Dublin City University, 2025). The opportunity is right in front of us. Our campuses are full of green, open spaces — so why not bring the library out into them? Picture beanbags under trees, book trolleys by the coffee van, outdoor study zones during exams. We already join in events like Culture Night, but they’re occasional. Mobile libraries visit festivals, yet often remain on the fringes. Seoul’s approach is different: a daily, visible presence woven into public life. It showed me that transformation can begin with something simple: books outdoors, visible and inviting. That simplicity sparks curiosity, connection, and spontaneous moments of engagement. Why not open these spaces to the wider community too, turning campuses into living cultural landscapes?
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| 7. Green spaces in front of DCU O’Reilly Library, a canvas for creative outreach. (Source: DCU Communications, 2022). |
Conclusion: Envisioning a Living Library Landscape
Seoul’s outdoor libraries weren’t just outreach; they were a shift in thinking. They brought books into public life in a way that felt joyful, visible, and relevant. Back at DCU, I see that same transformative potential. If we step outside the traditional model, literally and figuratively, we can build a library experience that is lived, shared, and felt beyond four walls.
References
DCU Communications (2022) Our Campuses. Dublin City University. Available at: https://www.dcu.ie/commsteam/our-campuses (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
DCU Library (2024) Library Strategy 2023–2028. Dublin: Dublin City University. Available at: https://www.dcu.ie/sites/default/files/inline-files/dcu-library-strategy-2023-2028.pdf (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
Dublin City University (2025) DCU Strategy 2023–2028. Dublin City University. Available at: https://www.dcu.ie/strategy (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
Park, U. (2025) ‘Seoul’s outdoor libraries draw 1 mil. visitors in 3 months, exceeding expectations’, The Korea Times, 3 July. Available at:
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20250703/seouls-outdoor-libraries-draw- 1-mil-visitors-in-3-months-exceeding-expectations (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
Seoul Metropolitan Government (no date) Seoul Outdoor Library. Seoul Metropolitan Government. Available at: https://english.seoul.go.kr/seoul-outdoor-library/ (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
Seoul Metropolitan Government (2024) Wow! Seoul Outdoor Library [brochure]. Seoul: Seoul Metropolitan Government.
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