For many people, books are magical doorways, allowing you entry into other worlds. Sometimes they are a shelter from the troubles of real life. Other times a fun playground to explore. And still other times, a way of gaining insights into the world that people wouldn’t get from their own lives.

LINE believes in the power of books, and to that end, the LINE Plus offices in Korea offer the LINE Hybrid WOW Library, home to thousands of books available to all LINERs, both offline and online. Let’s check it out!

 

LINE Hybrid WOW Library

 

One of the most important questions LINERs are always asking themselves is “Is this a WOW?”, because creating that feeling of “WOW” is what leads to industry-leading, No. 1 services that people truly love and embrace. We call it “an unprecedented experience that you just have to share with others.” ( Read more )  

And one of the most important sources of that inspiration for creating “WOWs” is in books. The LINE Hybrid WOW Library is the place where LINERs go to look for WOW insights and experiences, featuring books recommended by fellow LINERs. The LINE library features books any LINER can borrow, either a physical copy or as an e-book readable on mobile devices like smart phones and tablets (which is in line with LINE’s Hybrid Work policy and why it’s called the LINE Hybrid WOW Library).

 

WOW BOOKS Curation

 

From LINERs, by LINERs and for LINERs! LINE Hybrid WOW Library updates its “WOW” curated section every month with books personally recommended by LINERs.   

WOW Books 큐레이션 코너

The “WOW from LINERs” selection is especially notable, as LINERs can grow closer to their colleagues by sharing in the insights and experiences others have recommended.

(!) Wait a minute! I heard that the LINE CEO recommended a book to LINE Hybrid WOW Library. Is this true?!

Yes, it is! EJ Lee, the CEO of LINE Plus, takes reading very seriously (she even says it’s a dream of hers to open a bookstore in her neighborhood). EJ recently recommended the grown-up fairytale The Long, Long Night by Luri.

The Long, Long Night (by Luri)

EJ says: “I have two principles when making book recommendations for LINERs. The first is to pick a book that is easy to open, even for those who do not enjoy reading. And, second, to choose a book unrelated to work. As soon as I came up with those principles, I thought of The Long, Long Night. It’s a fairy tale but it’s more meaningful for adults, with their world experience, rather than for children. We all have to face the world and live on even if we would rather not. We all face radiant and tough moments of our own, and in all such moments our lives are connected to the lives of other beings, intertwined with coincidence and inevitable. At times, our moments shine and are helped by others’ support and sacrifice. To me, this book is about love and solidarity when leading our uneasy lives. This may sound cliché, but I hope this book offers a little WOW to you as well.”

 

 

OFFLINE WOW Library

Located on the 20th floor of the LINE Plus offices in Korea, the WOW Library is available for any LINERs to step in whenever they want and browse through the various books and magazines. In the WOW from LINERs section, the books also have notes  with what people think are the most impressive sentences from the book and the reasons the book was recommended.

Furthermore, there are panels set up in different spots around the library to introduce some WOW BOOKS. When taking a break from your work or when visiting the offline space with colleagues for casual meetings, you may find insights through the curated books on display. (Please note that you can borrow books from the online WOW Library using a QR code!)

 

ONLINE WOW Library

 

If you have decided what you want to read from the library but don’t want to carry a whole book around with you, you can borrow it instead from the “online” WOW Library. There are approximately 100,000 books available for LINERs, with about 400 books being added each month, providing all sorts of fascinating and creative ideas for any LINER looking to broaden their thoughts.

(!) What books are the most popular in the WOW Library?

Software Engineering at Google: Lessons Learned from Programming Over Time in the IT/programming field, topped the list. As the importance of software engineering is emphasized more amid rapid technological changes, we can see how LINERs enjoy using Google's years of know-how to build their own skills. Other top-ranked books include Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life, Inconvenient Convenience Store, and Being Good at Your Job.

A glimpse into the WOW Insights of LINERs

From No. 1 through No. 10, we were able to see a wide range of interests and insights from LINERs, in a wide range of fields including IT and programming, science fiction, novels, self-development, humanities, and business management.  Let's take a look at what insights people have found and shared based on the LINER book recommendations. 

 

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life (by Lulu Miller)
WOW from Client Side Engineer (LINE+)

“No spoilers! is probably the best introduction to this book. When you flip through the pages without any preconceived ideas about the book, you can feel its true appeal the best. If you need a small wonder in your boring and tiring life, open the first page of this book. I'm sure it will lead all LINERs to a whole new world. Welcome, to the world of small wonders.”

 

 

Inconvenient Convenience Store (by Hoyeon Kim)
WOW from Business Manager (LINE studio)

"Since the episodes unfold in an omnibus way and everyone in the story is depicted as the main character, I think there will be something that resonates with anyone who reads it. I recommend it to those who want to see a heart-warming story from the perspective of each main character, and to those who are looking for an engrossing book that draws you in just like a drama."

 

 

Being Good at Your Job (by Shu Yamaguchi, Gen Kunoski)
WOW from Server Side Engineer (LINE+)

“This book argues that the senses are important to being good at a job. It explains people who are good at what they do with their own senses as an example, and in the second half of the book, it also introduces how to develop your senses. This may sound like an obvious argument, but there are many examples in the book that made me think, "How can I do that?" I recommend this book as a tool to help people think about becoming a star employee!"                                                                        

 

 

Understandable IT Knowledge for Non-Majors (by Wonyoung Choi)
WOW from Product Planner (LINE Biz+)

"I worked on online-related tasks at my previous job, but working at LINE was a new challenge. I found this book while looking for IT-related books for my personal growth, and for better communications with the related teams including the development team. The author is a non-IT major and helped me understand IT tasks easily based on his own experiences, so I recommend reading this book to anyone who is struggling.

 

 

Dallergut Dream Department Store (by Miye Lee)
WOW from Client Side Engineer (LINE+)

"Dallergut Dream Department Store is a fantasy novel about dreams. I enjoyed imagining the mysterious world you can only enter by falling asleep and the world in dreams where you can move between reality and the dream world, and my was heart warmed by the fairy tale-like stories. I'd like to share this book with my fellow LINERs because it is relaxing and comforting to read when you want to escape from the tiring and hard reality."

 

 

WOW Library doesn't just have books!

The offline WOW Library is a place where LINERs can get inspiration from the space itself and boost their creativity away from their work desks. Located on the 20th floor, the highest floor of LINE office, it boasts a breathtaking view of Bundang. You can pull up a cushion anywhere in the library and sit down on the tiered lounge. Thanks to this, it also serves as a venue for various internal events and exhibitions. Of course, it is also a great place to take a break after immersing yourself in work. You can grab a cup of coffee, chat, or simply recharge here

I hope that many LINERs will find WOW insights in the library’s books and inspiration for their daily lives!

 

 

※ The information in this content applies only to certain corporations, and may differ for other corporations.