CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this Act is to enhance publicaccess to knowledge information and contribute to the advancement of neighborhood-friendly culture of libraries by providing for matters necessary to promote small libraries.
| Article 3 (Responsibility of State and Local Governments) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall seek measures necessary to promote small libraries. |
| (2) | In order to fulfill the responsibility under paragraph (1), the State and local governments shall prepare schemes necessary for administrative and financial support. |
| Article 4 (Relationship to other Acts) |
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the creation and operation of small libraries shall be governed by the provisions of the Libraries Act.
| Article 5 (Establishment and Operation of Small Libraries) |
| (1) | The State or a local government, corporation, organization, or private individual may establish and operate small libraries. |
| (2) | The State or a local government may provide support as necessary, within budgetary limits, to a corporation, organization, or private individual who intends to establish and operate, or who operates a small library. |
CHAPTER II DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF SMALL LIBRARIES
| Article 6 (Direction of Operation of Small Libraries) |
| (1) | A small library shall be operated in a manner that can contribute to the enhancement of the cultural lifestyle of a local community based on residents' participation and autonomy. |
| (2) | If it is necessary to establish and operate a small library, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the head of a Si, Gun, or autonomous Gu (hereinafter referred to as "the head of a Si/Gun/Gu") may establish an autonomous operating committee (hereinafter referred to as "committee") in order to collect opinions from local residents, relevant experts, users, etc. |
| (3) | Matters necessary for the organization and operation of a committee shall be prescribed by Municipal Ordinance of the competent Special Self-Governing City, Special Self-Governing Province, or Si/Gun/autonomous Gu. |
| Article 7 (Cooperation with other Public Libraries, etc.) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall establish and implement measures for cooperation between public libraries (referring to librariesdefined in subparagraph 4 of Article 2 of the Libraries Act; the same shall apply hereafter in this Article) and small libraries in library materials and business affairs in order to invigorate functions of small libraries and to develop the culture of libraries. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall formulate measures necessary to establish and operate an information sharing system for sharing books, materials, etc, between public libraries and small libraries. |
| Article 8 (Designation and Development of Model Area for Development of Small Libraries) |
| (1) | In order to promote small libraries, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate a model area for the development of small libraries (hereinafter referred to as "model area") ex officio or upon receipt of an application from the head of a Si/Gun/Gu. |
| (2) | The State or a local government may grant subsidies for expenses incurred in the designation and development of a model area, within budgetary limits. |
| (3) | Matters necessary for the standards and procedure for the designation and support of model areas shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 9 (Free Loan, etc. of State or Public Property) |
| Article 10 (Support, etc. of Small Libraries) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall provide support to public-private collaborative activities for promoting the establishment and operation of small libraries. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall encourage enterprises, organizations, or individuals to provide support to invigorating the establishment and operation of small libraries, |
| (3) | The State and local governments may provide support necessary to encourage enterprises, etc. to support small libraries. |
| Article 11 (Overseas Diffusion of Small Libraries) |
The State may provide administrative and financial support necessary for the overseas diffusion of small libraries.
| Article 12 (Survey on Actual Status of Operation of Small Libraries) |
| (1) | The head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall survey the actual condition of the operation of small libraries within his/her jurisdiction and shall submit a report on outcomes thereof to the Library Information Policy Committee under Article 12 of the Libraries Act on or before December 31 every year, as prescribed by Presidential Decree and publish the result thereof. |
| (2) | If it is necessary to conduct a survey pursuant to paragraph (1) or to prepare measures for evaluation and invigoration, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu or the chairperson of the Library Information Policy Committee under Article 12 of the Libraries Act may request a relevant administrative agency, enterprise, research institute, educational institution, or organization, to submit data or present an opinion. Upon receipt of a request to submit data or present an opinion in such cases, each relevant administrative agency or other entity shall comply with such request, unless extenuating circumstances exist to the contrary. |
| Article 13 (Establishment and Nurturing of Small Libraries-related Associations) |
| (1) | If it is necessary to facilitate exchange of information between workers in small libraries, train professional human resources, and encourage local residents' participation, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may grant permission to establish an association or other juristic person related to small libraries (hereinafter referred to as "association"). |
| (2) | The State may subsidize an association for expenses incurred in the operation thereof. |
| (3) | Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions regarding non-profit corporate entities in the Civil Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an association. |
CHAPTER III SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may select persons whose contribution to the promotion of small libraries is recognized, to reward such persons.
| Article 15 (Delegation or Entrustment of Authority) |
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may partially delegate his/her authority vested under this Act to the head of an affiliated agency or may partially entrust his/her authority vested under this Act to a relevant juristic person or organization, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 13973, Feb. 3, 2016>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.