Play Library at ACC Children!
Children are the future of our world. Having recognized the importance of children in Asia’s future, Asia Culture Center (ACC) has allocated one of its’ five major facilities for children called as ‘ACC Children’. It is considered the biggest culture space for children in Korea. As our children are living in an age of cultural diversity, ACC Children serves as a futuristic culture space by providing opportunities for them to experience creative, interactive and unique cultural activities through development of various contents that utilize a wealth of cultural resources of Asia.
Childhood is the best time to inculcate reading habit and love for books. However it has to be done systematically and carefully. Play Library at ACC Children is the best place for that. Today I will accompany you to the Play Library, a space which increases children’s creativity and imagination through a wide range of reading materials, educational programs and cultural activities.
When I visited there on a Saturday afternoon, Library was full of children of all ages ranging from toddlers to young teens. I could see a middle school student quietly reading on the floor. He said that he comes to Play Library on his own during weekends by taking the city bus. However, most of the children were accompanied by their parents. When I approached a father of two daughters of 6 and 8 years, he told that he comes to the library twice a month with children. Although the family regularly use the nearby municipal library, they prefer Play Library at ACC Children as it has a bigger collection as compared to other libraries in the City and offers various activities for children. By recalling his memories, this father told me that libraries during his childhood were merely reading rooms. He considers Play Library as a space where his children can play and rest while enjoying a range of reading related activities.
Interior at Play Library are carefully designed for little minds and ensure the safety of children. Although it is located in the basement, adjoining open passage with bamboo trees still bring sunlight into the Play Library. Along with that, the wooden floor and furniture creates a sense of bright and natural environment within it. Play Library at ACC Children encourages the culture of ‘reading together’ or ‘family reading’ where parents read for or read with their children. This is known as a powerful tool motivating your child to read.
Play Library at ACC Children is not merely a reading space. It has various programs and activities to increase your child’s creativity and imagination. For an example, monthly reading themes such as ‘Animals around the World’ teaches students about native animals in various countries using visual aids such as images, videos and maps. At the end of the learning process, children make their own globe by drawing world map and painting native animals of each country (i.e. Pandas in China, Kangaroos in Australia) on it. Dozens of such globes are displayed on the bookshelves of the Play Library. Another program teaches children about ‘Hats in Asia’. Children can also try on hats of various Asian countries and the programs ends with creating a hat of a preferred country. These programs are facilitated by well-qualified Children’s Librarians with a background of child education.
Most importantly Play Library is accessible to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, for FREE of charge! Therefore Play Library at ACC Children is undoubtedly the best places in Gwangju to spend free time with your kid in a meaningful way.
Written & Photography: Tharanga Ranasinghe, 9th ACC Reporters Corps
