The Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center, which plays a central role in supporting academic research and learning for the Hanyang community, currently holds over 1.5 million volumes, more than 12,500 serial publications, approximately 83,000 e-journals, and around 50 academic databases. Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center has continuously strived to improve and develop user-oriented systems, including being the first in Korea to introduce a library automation system in 1995. Here we introduce its latest achievements.

Written by Editorial Office / Materials & photos provided by the Academic Planning and Operations Team, Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center

■ Easier and faster checkout/return with RFID system 

The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system identifies books with attached electronic tags using wireless communication technology. Starting in March this year, Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center began implementing this RFID system and has attached RFID tags to about 670,000 volumes (approximately 560,000 in Paiknam Library and 94,000 in the Law, Medical, and Music branch libraries). With this system, users can now check out or return multiple books at once at the first-floor kiosk, and also return or pick up reserved books at the kiosk installed at Aejimun (Exit 2 of Hanyang Univ. Station). By scanning the RFID tag attached to the book using the Paiknam Library mobile app, self-checkout is also possible.

Through the RFID system, the library has shortened checkout and return times by processing multiple materials simultaneously, thereby improving efficiency. By installing unmanned return kiosks at the highly trafficked Aejimun and introducing self-checkout services, user accessibility and convenience have been greatly enhanced. In an online survey conducted from April 18 to 30 with 641 library users, 76% responded that they were satisfied with the non-face-to-face self-service method through kiosks.

■ Website and mobile app revamped for user convenience

In January of this year, Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center officially launched its newly revamped website and mobile app. The revamp reflected the needs identified through a user satisfaction survey, focusing on providing a more user-friendly experience.

The loading speed has been improved, and the UI/UX has been dramatically upgraded to allow users to check application histories at a glance. A multilingual translation feature, utilizing Google Translate, has been added to enable browsing in English, Chinese, and other languages. The search function has also been greatly enhanced, enabling users to search not only for materials provided by Paiknam Library but also those from external institutions such as RISS. To provide more proactive services, a “My Library” menu has been added to the website, allowing for personalized user features.

In response to the increasing trend of mobile access, the mobile app now offers 100% of the same functionalities as the website. Through this update, users will be able to experience faster and more intuitive academic information services.

■ Moving toward becoming a leading center for knowledge and information

Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center has continued to evolve into a user-friendly digital academic library based on its vision of becoming “a leading center for knowledge and information that shapes tomorrow.” In February of this year, entry gates were replaced, and the first-floor book café and lounge areas were remodeled. The renovation included the addition of a self-service return zone in the book café, improvements to the information desk, and replacement of old furniture. The Lee Soon-gyu Lounge and Lee Jong-hoon Lounge also saw a complete renewal of furniture and PCs. Through these updates, users can now utilize the RFID system in a more pleasant and efficient environment, and enjoy more comfortable study and relaxation spaces.

Paiknam Library & Academic Information Center plans to analyze RFID system usage data and continuously identify areas for improvement to expand its services further. Additionally, it plans to regularly conduct satisfaction surveys and in-depth interviews to gather feedback on the overall use of library facilities and resources. Based on this feedback, the library aims to continuously enhance its services to better meet user needs.