"Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." A quote attributed to Plato, these wrods depict the immeasurable value of books and the power of the written word. Not only do they act as a guide to people’s lives throughout history, but they also encapsulate the brilliance of human thought, as can be seen through mankind’s impressive archive of books. Korea University (KU)’s Life Library firmly supports this notion, providing a wide assortment of books and hosting various events, all for their love of books and people. For this month's issue, The Granite Tower (GT) visited the Life Library and talked with a couple of its members. 

Located in room 207 of the Student Union Building, the KU Life Library can be found by taking a right turn at the elevator on the second floor, which is immediately visible upon entering the building. A snug, cozy space lined with colorful posters and pictures, the Life Library has a warm atmosphere unique in itself. People who enter the doors will immediately be greeted by a Saengdo-dungi at the desk. Saengdo-dungi is a cute nickname that members of the Life Library use to call themselves, and on this particular day Saengo-dungi Choi Yujin ('18, Physics) was there to warmly greet GT and share the behind-the-scenes of the Life Library.

She started off by introducing the Life Library members' interesting cultures. The Life Library members each have their own unique nicknames by which they call each other; for instance, Choi’s is Sagua, meaning “apple” in English. Interestingly, unlike most other clubs, the Life Library does not have a president, and all members are considered fairly equal to one another. An extension of this that they must use informal speech, or banmal  in Korean, to each other. After a short conversation, it soon became clear that the people behind the Life Library are like family to each other. 

Entirely managed and represented by KU students, the Life Library was formed in 1990 in defiance of the government’s book censorship at the time. A group of students pursuing freedom and equality started a library, opening their book rental service to anyone inside and outside of KU. The Life Library carries on this legacy, not only through its book lending service, but also by hosting various events for social minorities like laborers, women, disabled people, the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

The Life Library also has a wide assortment of books, ranging from health and medical treatment to those of language and literature, and they add to their collection of books every two months. Anyone with a library card is free to borrow up to five books a time for up to 15 days. Choi kindly showed GT how to make a library card for free: all people have to do is write down some basic personal information, and they are given identification numbers that are written on paper library cards when borrowing the books. Choi added that those who borrow 11 books and fill out a stamp sheet are rewarded with a free book from the Life Library themselves.

GT also interviewed the Life Library’s public relations manager, Lee Jian (’21, Business Administration), nicknamed “Missy,” to learn about her personal experience with the Life Library.

GT: Why did you join the Life Library?
Lee: It’s a bit underwhelming, but my reason for joining the Life Library is not that grand. I just happened to have a friend who was a member of the Life Library, and when I visited it with them, I just loved the space so much that I had to join it. I felt so liberated the moment I entered, and I really liked the photos and posters plastered on the wall.

GT: What makes the Life Library different from other libraries?
Lee: Firstly, unlike other libraries in the school, students oversee everything from planning to management. In addition to simply lending books, we also archive school materials and hold events related to various themes such as labor, queerness, or the environment! Lastly, we also rent out our space as a place for meetings, outside of operating hours! Please feel free to use it often.

GT: What was your most memorable experience at the Life Library?
Lee: The basic library work is meaningful in its own way, but I feel especially proud when we get to connect with other organizations to create events or agendas that deal with social minorities. Last semester, we organized and hosted an event at a café called “Dadalap” to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and I felt so grateful that I got to directly collaborate with the parties and people involved.

GT: Please explain the Life Library’s plans for this semester.
Lee: This semester, as always, the Life Library will be in your daily lives as the most censor-free and safe space in KU, and at the same time, we will strive for our keynote of “Freedom for academic ideology and popularization of progressive ideas”! More specifically, we are currently planning our book fair, which was also held in the first and second quarters. Also, in October, we will be holding events for Hangul Day as well as Mad Pride.

The Life Library is a warm space run by even warmer people, so it is definitely worth a visit. They are open from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. from Mondays to Fridays. During this time, students are free to come and study, listen to online classes, or read and borrow books. Plus, they are always looking for new Saengdo-dungis to join their family, so anyone can apply for a spot on their team all year long. It is inclusive, generous people like those at the Life Library that act as the “cherry on top” for people’s tough everyday lives, so be sure to show support for this incredible organization!