Chapter II: Broad and Extensive Collections
The National Library of China hosts vast and comprehensive holdings, including extensive collections in foreign languages and many historical books. By 2008, the NLC's collection totaled 26,310,000 volumes and artifacts. It is renowned for its collection of ancient and rare materials. The NLC houses 270,000 rare records and 1,640,000 ancient records. The most valuable collections are the inscriptions on animal bones and tortoise shells from the Shang Dynasty (Oracle Bones), Dunhuang Manuscripts, the Zhaocheng Tripitaka of the Jin Dynasty, the Yongle Encyclopedia, and the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature. Among its earliest editions in foreign languages are incunabula printed in Europe from 1473 to 1477.
The National Library of China comprehensively collects all available books in Chinese. Books in 115 foreign languages constitute half of the whole collection, making the library the largest collector of foreign publications in China. The NLC also has special collections of manuscripts of notable authors, documents on revolutionary history and doctoral dissertations in China. It is also one of the depository libraries for publications of the UN and other international organizations as well as foreign governments. With the development of various new types of information media, the NLC has also begun collecting more electronic publications.
As the national center for the interlibrary loan system, the NLC has established ties with 558 libraries in China, dealing with an average 30,000 requests annually. It has also formed partnerships with 557 libraries in 117 countries and regions for exchanges of publications.
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Chapter III: Comprehensive Services
Based on its abundant resources, the National Library of China provides comprehensive services for the publicthrough the use of advanced technologies.
The National Library of China is actively exploring an array of legislative reference services for the central government, to offer such services directly to the nation's supreme legislative bodies. The Library also provides information services for the National People's Congress, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Council of Chairs of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and the Special Committees of the National People's Congress. The NLC has established information-services cooperation with many ministries and commissions through various methods, such as through the establishment of its ministry and commission branches. Customized services are also available for academics and scholars.
The National Library of China is open to the public 365 days a year, serving an average of 12,000 visitors per day. Users can view documents in open-stack reading rooms by using second-generation identification cards, and also apply for free user cards. There are about 40 reading rooms in the NLC Phase I, with the capacity to satisfy different types of users. In the NLC Phase II, separate areas are designated for reading rooms, research studios, general services and academic conferences, as well as for leisure activities, thus forming a new integrated library-services system comprised of the "searching, reading, researching and depositing" of collections. In addition, users can locate documents more conveniently and swiftly, thanks to the adoption of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. In lending services, users also enjoy greater facility through the online request and renewal system, as well as self-service book lending and return.
The National Library of China has a division specializing in reference services, to provide comprehensive reference and information services through a variety of methods, such as keyword or subject searches, novelty assessment for science and technology projects, document verification, reference requests, document delivery, etc. The NLC has also set up a virtual reference desk and the National Cooperative Network of Reference Services. Furthermore, the NLC actively deploys up-to-date services to assist key educational, research and commercial institutions.
Based on its extensive range of collections and virtual digital resources on the Internet, and supported by an advanced information network, the National Library of China provides remote-access services for users. The portal of the National Digital Library of China provides a one-stop service including for information retrieval, information services and public delivery. The NLC provides non-copyrighted digital resources for users, purchasing and launching 10,000 e-book titles on the Internet for users for free. A wireless network covers the entire area of the NLC Phase II, for users to conveniently view digital resources by using modern technologies, such as portable mobile electronic readers. In addition, online information services, online reading, as well as online exhibitions and seminars provide even more channels for users to acquire knowledge.
The National Library of China holds many lectures for the public, such as its "Wenjin Lecture Series," and the "Wenjin Reading Salon" – popular cultural services for the public. The NLC also mounts diverse and large-scale exhibitions of the treasures of the library, allowing people to view and study the essentials of Chinese culture. The NLC has set up the Wenjin Book Awards, the Wenjin Reader Awards, etc., to create a conducive environment for popularizing reading, improving general knowledge levels, and constructing a harmonious society.
The National Library of China provides professional training for the library community in China through various methods, such as practical training, continuing education, etc. The NLC has established effective cooperative mechanisms through its specialized library services and regional library systems, strengthening interlibrary loan services with libraries in other systems, so as to provide publication delivery services across various regions and systems. The NLC has implemented a Western Regional Assistance Project, to support local libraries in China's impoverished western regions, donating Local Library Service Cards and e-books to local libraries, reducing the digital divide between central and smaller libraries. The NLC has also set up the Online Library Cataloguing Center, providing Chinese-language Machine Readable Catalogue (MARC) records to libraries nationwide, as well as compiles and publishes a national bibliography. In addition, the NLC has established the Document Supply Service Collaboration Network, setting up a long-term mechanism for the exchange of interlibrary loan services and publication delivery services.
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Chapter IV: International Networking
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As an important national cultural institution, the National Library of China is committed to strengthening exchange and cooperation with the world's library community and cultural networks, steadily expanding new collaborative fields internationally. The NLC actively joins and conducts bilateral and multilateral professional seminars and exchange activities with the world library community, as well as participates in international organizations such as the IFLA. The NLC has established cooperative staff programs and technology exchanges, as well as resource sharing, with the United States, England, France, Russia, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Korea, among other countries. Chinese has also become an official language of the IFLA conference, increasing the influence of the NLC in the IFLA. To promote greater understanding in the world of the remarkable culture of China, the NLC has successfully held various international conferences and overseas exhibitions of special collections.
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Afterword
Over the past 100 years, the National Library of China has remained committed to the ideals of advancing and supporting learning and enlightenment, spreading knowledge and serving the society, while upholding the spirit of advanced research, dedication and innovation, as well as community service. The NLC has thus made significant contributions to promoting human enlightenment and social progress.
As an important national information base and an accessible high-tech knowledge center, the National Library of China endeavors to attain new heights in the future through more open and innovative approaches, steadily improving of the quality of its services, and broadening its resources and networks.
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