Reading for the masses

Self-service libraries pop up around Beijing's Chaoyang district

The government of Beijing's Chaoyang district had opened eight self-service libraries by the end of last year, forming the largest group of such public libraries in the capital city.

The eight libraries, which are mainly located in Chaoyang's commercial and cultural zones, have entered Beijing's public library service system. Readers can borrow books from and read books in these libraries for free. They are able to return their borrowed books at any of the eight libraries, as well as other public libraries in the district.

The libraries cover a combined area of more than 40,000 square meters and provide a total of 30,000 books, as well as simple reading areas.

One of them is in the Beijing Children's Hospital East Branch, the first public library to open in a hospital in China. Another at Zuojiazhuang is equipped with special facilities for visually impaired people.

Li Kai, curator of Chaoyang Library, said the self-service facilities allow people to take part in running them, and make it easier to borrow and return books.

"The city is lacking in public reading spaces. The purpose of building these libraries is to not only inspire but also gather the people," he said.

Li said that Chaoyang district will build more of these libraries and stock books according to readers' needs.