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Where would you put an outdoor library in Raleigh?

The concept is taking over South Korea’s capital city. We’re thinking about where we’d copy it in Oak City.

DECO books

We have Little Free Libraries around town, but what if there was a central library — outdoors? | Photo by RALtoday

A cool breeze, some vitamin D, and a good book. Does it get much better than that?

If you ask a resident of South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, the answer would probably be a resounding “no.” The city’s innovative Outdoor Library concept drew in a million visitors in the past three months, and has attracted 6 million since launching in 2022.

What is it?

According to the official city website: “The Seoul Outdoor Library is designed as a vibrant space where people can freely read books and engage in cultural activities outside the traditional library setting.”

The space features chairs, rentable books, and is divided into zones — think: concert spaces, play + reading areas, and a pop-up zone for vendors.

Where would one go in Raleigh?

Our vote? Pullen Park. Known for being the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the US, it already has some of the zones covered with its playgrounds, carousel, and Theatre In The Park. Just look at all of the space for reading on the map.

It’s time to bookmark your suggestion. Let us know — we’ll share your ideas in a future newsletter.

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