Life of Guangzhou - Way-out for Libraries: Develop Networks like McDonald's

No vacancies are found in a reading room of Guangzhou Library. [Information Times]

Guangzhou lacks enough well-developed libraries nowadays as public demand soars.

Situation: "Sellers' market"

This summer vacation many public libraries in Guangzhou are found crowded. The average daily reader's service of Guangzhou library, the biggest in the city, is about 8,000 people/ time.

There is hot debate about whether or not university libraries should be open to public demand.

"The popularity of libraries results from their function not only for providing information, but also for cultural communication and relaxation", said Provincial Zhongshan Library Vice Curator Mo Shaoqiang.

Many major libraries in Guangzhou proceed with expansion. Provincial Zhongshan Library will be the biggest provincial library in mainland China when its renovation is completed in 2010. Guangzhou Library is to rank the biggest city library as well when its construction, involving ￥924 million (US$ 122), finishes in Zhujiang New City in 2008.

Guangzhou government's huge investment for libraries is seldom seen in China, according to a professional.

Problems: Unbalanced geographical layout

Many public libraries are clustered in the downtown Yuexiu District at present, which only covers 3.5% of Guangzhou and amounts to 10% of city's population.

The libraries in outskirt Luogang and Nansha districts are still in construction preparation.

For the majority who don't live or work near libraries it is not easy to reach the services.

"Library locations cannot be planned strategically in mainland China as they are subject to land provision available", remarked Vice Curator Mo Shaoqianq.

Community libraries are not few, but usually lack financial support, good management and book resources, and have difficulty in providing sustainable normal services.

Furthermore there are no systematic, overall administration, resource distributions (like funds) or development of basic libraries, which are vulnerable to partners' control in property, staffing and funding.

The annual budget to purchase books is 10 million Yuan (US.6 million) for a city library while only some 100,000 yuan (US$ 76,000) is available for Baiyun District Library.

Low staff ratios and imbalanced incomes also discourage development.

A branch of Guangzhou Library opens to public. Most major libraries in Guangzhou set up branches to meet public demand. [Information Times]

Suggested solutions: Developed networks like McDonald's　

"A network of numerous small libraries should be developed into communities across Guangzhou", suggested Zhang Baiying, Library Curator of Guangzhou University.

A single overall system is also needed to tap and manage resources for all levels of libraries in Guangzhou. Legislation is required to establish such a system.

"Regulation of Libraries in Guangzhou" was listed as reserve legislation for the city council this April. It regulates that all levels of government are liable to include a fund to develop local libraries into their budgets and increase them in line with economic developments.

"This will bring resources into play that can activate more than 180 public libraries for the Guangzhou population of some 10 million, almost reaching world's average." said Cheng Huanwen, Library Curator of Guangzhou-based Sun Yet-san University.

(By Ronald Li and Alan Devey)