The first public music library in the Republic of Korea has opened this week in Paju, a city just north of Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do. It is part of the brand new Solgaram Art Hall (솔가람아트홀) that includes a performance hall dedicated exclusively to classical music performances, especially recitals and chamber music.
The Garam Music Library (가람음악도서관) is substantial, with an archives and all sorts of music-related materials available to the public. The total cost of the whole arts complex is said to be around 110 billion won. As well as a music library and 300 seat performance space, there is a children’s library, lecture space, café and so on. The music library has 16,900 books or other reading materials and around 4600 music manuscripts.
Recent news seems to imply the centre aims to combine entertainment, leisure and education in a more accessible way than that of larger centres in the country.
Until very recently, Korea has not been a country with many public libraries. However, there has been considerable effort in recent years to address the issue of access to the quality reading materials and information libraries offer. Small public libraries and reading places have been popping up more and more. (Read an article about that from HanCinema here). Garam Music Library seems to be part of this emerging trend.
To celebrate the opening of this arts centre in Paju, a series of Saturday performances ‘Master Series in Paju’ is on until April 5th. Performers include recitals by the (dashingly handsome) cellist Song Young-hoon and pianist Jo Jae-hyeok, among others (see the concert poster below). More information on the Saturday performances can be found here, but only in Korea. For more information call 031-940-8521.
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I found this information in recent news from 이데일리 (E Daily), Kyeonggi Ilbo and Asiae Gyeongje.
A video from the architects here.
Timbre.Tales 