English Activity Programs in Libraries: Exploring the Potential of Children’s English Libraries as a Countermeasure for Educational Gaps

The Korean government has implemented various measures to address the disparity in English language proficiency stemming from income inequality. One such initiative is children’s English libraries. These libraries in Korea not only provide English-language books but also offer camps and English-language programs either for free or at low cost. In Japan, educational disparity has emerged as a significant issue in recent years, particularly regarding English education at the elementary school level, which has only recently been introduced as a school subject and appears to be exacerbating the gap. To investigate the feasibility of establishing children’s English libraries similar to those in Korea, this study conducted regular English-language activities at libraries akin to those in Korea in 2022 and 2023, and surveys were conducted among the children and their guardians.