"Enjoying Summer Reading": Why Libraries Become Popular Readers Library | Beijing | Readers
Beijing, July 25th (Xinhua) - There is no bustling noise, with constant temperature air conditioning blocking the scorching heat outside the door, free water and electricity, no need to queue in the bathroom, and rows of spiritual food on bookshelves... Living in Beijing, 36 year old clerk Zhao Yixuan always finds a quiet place with fewer people, warm in winter and cool in summer, "the library meets all my needs.".
"Anyone can approach the greatest soul in the library at the lowest cost. In the information age, libraries play an irreplaceable role," she said.
Don't waste your youth in old age, life can only be good at reading. Zhao Yixuan's feelings also resonate with countless readers. Recently, news about popular libraries among citizens has been trending on social media, and more and more people are coming to the library to "calm down and clear their minds" during their leisure time. "Reading and enjoying summer" has become a "hot" phenomenon in current Chinese society.
On June 18th, readers read in the theme hall of Zhongshan Library in Guangdong Province. Shen Jizhong
Enjoying Good Time
"Some people believe that the library is the territory of students and children, and has nothing to do with 'social people'. In fact, insisting on borrowing from the library can make time more meaningful and bring reading back to its original beauty," said Zhao Yixuan.
In the midst of busy work and mundane life, following the protagonist in the book to experience a different kind of life and engaging in conversations with wise people to enrich one's life experience is equivalent to giving one's own soul a chance to relax. A public library with zero entry barriers and a rich collection of books is undoubtedly an excellent place for intensive and quiet reading.
The library is the cultural coordinate of a city, with functions such as carrying out lifelong education and cultivating a scholarly atmosphere. Professor Li Guihua from the School of Public Administration of Sichuan University introduced that multiple libraries are currently implementing a comprehensive operation model that integrates film screening, academic lectures, special exhibitions, and digital collections, striving to bring readers to the world of books.
Recently, the daily reception of readers of all sizes in libraries across the country has reached its peak. This past weekend, the largest single building library in China, the East Library of Shanghai Library, was bustling with crowds early in the morning. "The coffee reading area and out of print books in the library collection are the most popular, and the enthusiasm of middle-aged and young people is particularly high," said Chen Chao, the director of the Shanghai Library.
The results of the 20th National Reading Survey released in April this year showed that paper books are still the most popular form of reading, with 45.5% of adult citizens leaning towards "reading with a paper book.".
On July 25th, at the Houmenshan Rural Library in Shanghe Village, Majian Town, Zhuji City, volunteer teachers gave reading classes to children in summer daycare classes. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Yu
Illuminate the spiritual world
During the summer vacation, 42 year old Zhang Xia would bring her son, who was currently in elementary school, to the parent-child reading area of Tianjin Binhai Library every few days. They would each hold a book and quietly enjoy their parent-child time.
"The library provides a space for book lovers to share and inherit. Although it takes more than half an hour to drive from home to the library, each experience is like searching for treasure, and this kind of experience cannot be obtained by brushing your phone," she said.
The children's area of Shanghai Library has set up holographic images, cartoon props, and other facilities to create a new reading experience; The Fenghuang Town Library Branch in Xinzhou District, Wuhan City has launched an "official childcare service", providing compulsory tutoring after class, on weekends, and during holidays... Behind the library's reputation as the "most efficient place to stroll children" by parents is the constantly updated venue service model and facility conditions in various regions.
The library also provides a space for like-minded individuals to meet, becoming a spiritual paradise that illuminates the spiritual world and meets like-minded individuals.
"The stickers sandwiched in books, annotations in blank spaces, and even casual graffiti are all witnesses to the relationship that has occurred between people and books," said Zhang Weidong, a library "frequent visitor" who enjoys searching for old books and a reader from Niujie in Xicheng, Beijing.
The emotional value of textual links pursued by Zhang Weidong has become a "real world emotional link" for 30-year-old working doctoral student Li Ziyi.
"Once, I found that the book friend sitting next to me also liked Yu Hua. We chatted on WeChat for a long time, and the more we chatted, the more we became in sync." Li Ziyi is a senior bookstore explorer who has visited nearly 20 public libraries of all sizes in Beijing. "I love the novel" To Live "for its warm and cruel plot, but I didn't expect to find a kindred spirit here."
On July 20, tourists read in the 24-hour desert library in Xinghe Resort, Tengger Desert Desert, Zhongwei, Ningxia. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Peng
Yue Du "Charging"
In the summer of July, the outdoor temperature in Beijing can reach 40 degrees Celsius. Entering the National Library, the comfortable and cool reading environment complements the quiet and lively reading atmosphere.
"After the start of summer vacation, more than 60% of the self-study group in the reading hall are middle-aged and young people under the age of 45," the staff of the North District Reading Hall of the National Library told reporters.
It is reported that since June this year, Guotu has adjusted its service policy to allow students to bring their backpacks into the library, providing a more comfortable space for readers who come for self-study.
"Whenever I have time, I come here to study my own topic," said Zhang Lei, a 35 year old programmer. Copying books and materials has a dedicated person to help, "which can be said to be the ceiling of self-study.".
In the reading room, there are also many young people like Yang Ziqing who bury their heads in charging. Yang Ziqing, who just joined a law firm, intends to use the weeks before taking up her job to add more psychological knowledge.
According to her observation, some of the readers around her are college students studying for certification purposes, while others are professionals who want to broaden their reading horizons and improve themselves in the workplace. Yang Ziqing wrote on social media, "A girl on the left is preparing for her teacher qualification certificate, and the old man across from her has also brought a stack of mobile photography reference books to read. If she doesn't study anymore, it's hard to justify..."
In order to better meet the reading and learning needs of citizens, many libraries in China have made adjustments. Libraries in Chongqing, Yunnan and other regions have expanded their self-study areas and extended their opening hours, while libraries in Chengdu have added drinking water dispensers and waiting areas for entry.
In 2020, China proposed to vigorously promote reading more and reading good books throughout society, and build a bookish society and a bookish China. In recent years, China has continuously increased its support for the construction of a bookish China, and has included nationwide reading in government work reports for 10 consecutive years. It has built about 3300 public libraries, more than 100000 physical bookstores, and 587000 rural libraries. The infrastructure for nationwide reading has become more complete, and the service network is becoming increasingly dense.
"The library is a place for learning and thinking, whether it's storing energy for the body or 'charging' the brain. In the scorching summer, everyone can find a place in the library," said Yang Ziqing.
