Library is booking stories of success

Lei Jingjing emerged last year as the leading borrower at Ordos Library by checking out 540 books. This impressive feat positions her at the top of the library's borrowing charts in Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Lei's frequent visits were primarily to benefit her two children. Each week, she would escort them to the library, where her eldest, a fifth-grader, has a penchant for literature and history and her youngest, a first-grader, finds joy in the picture book section.

For over a decade, Ordos Library has consistently published its annual list of top borrowers. Like Lei, the top 10 borrowers each year predominantly check out children's books. With a population of just over 2 million, the city's library sees annual traffic of more than 700,000 patrons, the vast majority being children, teenagers and accompanying parents.

In 2023, the library's circulation exceeded 1.3 million, with the peak month being August with checkouts reaching 180,000.

"The library has dedicated reading areas for children and teenagers, including sections for electronic checkouts and digital experiences. Our peak periods are during the winter and summer months," says Wang Yisha, who has worked at the library since 2009.

Wang once encountered a patron who arrived with a suitcase to borrow books, using library cards for the entire family to check out more than 30 volumes in one go. The library restricts each person to borrowing eight books at a time.

According to borrowing records from recent years, the top-ranked books are predominantly children's literature that mostly focuses on history and culture.

"I feel that the reading culture is growing stronger. Parents are keen on fostering their children's reading habits," Wang says.

The library adopted an intelligent system more than a decade ago. Machines throughout the facility allow patrons to easily search for and borrow books. Each bookshelf is equipped with smart technology and the massive eight-story library, composed of three interconnected buildings, employs a staff of just over 50.

The facility is so convenient that primary school students can use the machines to borrow books, which attracts young readers, Wang says.

The library also houses a bookstore, where readers can order new books that are not available in the collection. The library covers the costs, allowing patrons to borrow the book immediately upon arrival. Additionally, a newly established dining area provides convenience for those who wish to spend extended periods in the library.

"We strive to offer a wide range of services to attract new users and retain existing ones," Wang adds.

Each year, the library hosts approximately 200 events, including book discussions and book debuts. It also regularly visits schools to conduct book-sharing lectures. Recently, the library held a lecture at a senior middle school on the art of costumes in the classic Chinese novel, Dream of the Red Chamber.

Apart from children and teenagers, the library also draws tourists and members of the Mongolian ethnic group.

Situated in the vast southwestern region of Inner Mongolia, Ordos is home to the Mongolian and other ethnic groups. Both Mongolian and Chinese languages are prominently visible throughout the city. The Ordos Library's exterior resembles three standing books. This iconic design has made it a popular spot for tourists to take photos.

Inside the library, there is a dedicated Mongolian-language reading room, offering a range of periodicals, magazines and books in the native language covering subjects such as literature, history and science. "The Mongolian reading room does not get many visitors," says Tana, a Mongolian librarian. "However, the most popular book in the room is a Mongolian novel about rivers.

"This reading room is also used for the collection and preservation of Mongolian literature and academic research," Tana says.