GS Engineering and Construction said on the 26th that its premium residential brand Xi is launching the apartment industry's first hybrid e-library service in Korea that combines ownership and subscription models in collaboration with Kyobo Book Centre. The service is available free of charge on Xi Home, the dedicated application for Xi residents.
Conventional apartment e-libraries have mostly operated on an ownership (purchase) model, causing inconvenience such as reservations or waiting when the number of owned titles was exceeded. But the hybrid model introduced by Xi combines the ownership model with a subscription (lending) model, allowing immediate access to popular titles and new releases through subscription. This enables residents to read without waiting.
In particular, the new service goes beyond simple e-book viewing to include curation features. It expands to mobile the resident-tailored recommendation service that Xi has offered at on-site libraries, providing reading recommendations tailored to residents' interests, age, and lifestyle patterns, centered on new releases and bestsellers.
Kyobo Book Centre's position as the operator of the nation's largest e-library infrastructure is also a strength. Kyobo Book Centre has experience operating about 4,800 e-libraries and holds about 400,000 types of content dedicated to e-libraries, updating new releases monthly to offer differentiated content.
A GS Engineering and Construction official said, "This curated e-library service is a differentiated attempt to let residents enjoy a high-quality reading environment comfortably at home," adding, "Going forward, Xi will continue to expand brand experiences that inspire every aspect of life beyond a simple residential space."