We all know that I love libraries (and I can clearly remember every library I’ve ever been into) so it’s not surprising that the Starfield Library at COEX Mall was one of my favourite spots in Seoul. A library in a mall – is this common? I know Linwood Library moved into Eastgate mall after the Chch earthquakes but I don’t know of any others (there’s probably lots, please enlighten me). But there’s probably none like Starfield.

Huge vertical curved walls of books (which after much thought – “how do you get them down? Where are the ladders?” – I am guessing they are “prop books”, but still impressive). I even spotted a Kumamon book! But other than the prop books, it is a real, functioning library, and lots of people use it! It was always hard to find a seat when we were there; people studying, parents reading to their kids, teens reading magazines.

The high ceiling is all glass so the space is pretty impressive, and since we were there in November the Xmas decs were up. The centrepiece was an art installation which I found out later was by Mike Stilkey – quirky animal paintings on a huge stack of old library books, very cool!!