Gazing at this impressive building, one might wonder about the treasures it holds. This is the National Library of China. It is more than just a repository of books. It is a living testament to China’s rich cultural heritage and its ongoing pursuit of knowledge.
The National Library of China stands as a comprehensive research library. It serves as a national repository for publications. Its functions include collecting, processing, storing and researching. The library also utilizes and disseminates knowledge. It is a national center for bibliographical records. It is a national center for digital libraries.
The National Library of China plays a leading role. It standardizes, digitizes and networks the library community in China. The library serves the central government. It also helps priority readers in research, educational and production institutions. The public can also benefit from its services. The library trains Chinese librarians. It promotes exchange and cooperation with libraries worldwide.
The predecessor to the National Library of China was the Metropolitan Library of the Qing dynasty. In 1909, the Xuantong emperor approved building the Metropolitan Library. It was located in Guanghua Temple in Beijing. After the Revolution of 1911, the library opened to the public in 1912.
In 1916, the Metropolitan Library began receiving legal deposit copies of Chinese publications. This marked its role as a national library. In 1928, it was renamed the National Library of Peiping. New premises were built in Wenjin Street in 1931. This site now serves as a branch library.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the library was renamed several times. It became the National Library of Peking in 1950. Then it was renamed Beijing Library in 1951. Premier Zhou Enlai proposed a new building. This new building opened to the public in 1987. Deng Xiaoping provided the calligraphy for the Chinese name. In 1998, it was officially named the National Library of China.
The National Library of China boasts a vast collection. It includes foreign language items and rare books. By the end of 2003, the library held over 23 million volumes. This ranks it fifth among national libraries globally. The library’s earliest collections date back to the Southern Song dynasty. The oldest items are inscriptions on animal bones from the Shang dynasty.
The National Library of China’s special collections feature many treasures. These include rare books and ancient maps. There are also Dunhuang manuscripts. Books in ethnic minority languages are preserved here. You can also find manuscripts by notable authors. Revolutionary historical documents are available. Local histories and genealogies round out the offerings. The library also holds early European printed books from 1473-77.
The National Library of China has the world’s largest collection of Chinese publications. It collects all books published in China. The library also emphasizes unpublished materials. It holds a large collection of publications on library and information science. It serves as a center for Chinese yearbooks. It maintains a special collection of publications from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao.
The National Library of China has a substantial collection of foreign language publications. These date back to the 1920s. It is also a depository library for UN publications. This allows it to collect publications from international organizations.
The library emphasizes both collection and utilization of its resources. It focuses on preservation and conservation. Staff members use traditional and modern techniques to restore rare books.
The National Library of China serves as the national center for bibliographical records. It publishes the China National Bibliography. It also creates national union catalogs.
The National Library of China is dedicated to automation. It uses advanced technology. It has a library-wide network connecting all subsystems.
The goal is to transform the National Library of China from a “Treasury of Knowledge” to a “Fountain of Knowledge”. The library holds exhibitions and lectures. These cover humanities, social sciences, arts, sciences and technologies.
Mao Zedong held the No 1 library card. Zhou Enlai approved the new building’s construction. Deng Xiaoping wrote the library’s name in calligraphy. President Jiang Zemin called on the Chinese people to study hard. These events show the government’s attention to Chinese librarianship. The National Library of China is poised for a bright future. It embraces digitization and networkization. It is becoming a library without walls.