Background

The national information super highway will be complete in 2005.
Today, citizens value "Access to information" more than "Holding of information."

History

2000   Comprehensive plan for promoting computerization of libraries drawn up
2001   Digital reading rooms started to be established in public libraries
2002   Basic plan for digital library planned to be completed

Building & Cost of the National Digital Library (Estimate)

Total floor area: About 33,000 square meters
Size: Four stories above ground and three stories below
Construction period: 2002-2008
Total cost: 135 billion Korean won

Roles and Functions

The National Digital Library is a facility that supplies traditional and digital materials through networks.  Its functions are:

1. Preservation and handing down of digital information resources
2. Collection development of digital/traditional information resources
3. Equal distribution of knowledge information resources throughout the country
4. Last resort of Korean documents
5. National network center for library and information, based on library cooperation
6. Collaborative preservation/provision of information resources
7. Center to exchange document information with North Korean libraries

Major Services

1. Support and instruction of digital reading rooms in public libraries all over Korea
2. Reference service for other libraries and information service for government officials
3. Provision of full text information to the whole nation via public libraries
4. Organization of information on the Internet
5. Locator service of Korean library collections
6. Information service for the handicapped
7. Gateway to information abroad for Korean users

Future Plans

As the national representative library, NLK aims at achieving the following aims by establishing and operating the National Digital Library:

To enhance its image as an information superpower
To improve its academic research activities
To improve the quality of people's life
To solve the shortage of storage space expected in 2005

Building of the National Digital Library and its activities will further strengthen the function of the whole NLK as the library which carries out new services in the new age.