Jilin Provincial Library

Jilin Provincial Library

The Jilin Provincial Library is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Jilin Province.

The Jilin Provincial Library was established in the first year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1909), with its original building located in Jilin City, then the capital of Jilin Province. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it moved to Changchun along with the provincial capital in 1954, and was situated at No. 1162 Xinmin Street. The library was completed and began trial operations in 1958, officially opening to the public in 1960. In September 2008, the provincial Party committee and government decided to build a new library at a different location. Construction began in August 2010, the new library was completed by the end of 2013, and it officially opened for trial operation on September 28, 2014.

The new building of the Jilin Provincial Library is located at No. 10055 Renmin Street, with a total construction area of 53,713 square meters and a site area of 44,700 square meters. It has one underground level and five above-ground floors, with a designed service life of 100 years. It has a collection capacity of 5 million volumes, 3,000 reading seats, 4,000 network nodes, and can accommodate up to 6,000 visitors per day.

The Jilin Provincial Library serves as the provincial center for literature and information collection and services, resource procurement and cataloging, information network development, literature resource sharing, and inter-library collaboration, coordination, academic research, and exchange. It plays a key role in supporting policy-making for Party and government leadership, providing information consultation services for scientific research, education, enterprises, and institutions, offering literature borrowing services for the general public, and delivering lifelong education services. The library currently houses a collection of over 3.5 million volumes and a vast amount of digital literature and information resources, covering a wide range of disciplines and languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, and Russian. Among these, there are 430,000 traditional thread-bound ancient books, including Buddhist scriptures, woodblock prints from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, handwritten manuscripts, and annotated editions by renowned scholars—many of which are considered rare treasures. There are also 120,000 volumes of publications from the Republican era, 50,000 items of materials from the puppet Manchukuo period, all of which hold significant historical value.

The new building of the Jilin Provincial Library utilizes advanced technology and intelligent management to provide convenient services for readers. Facilities such as the comprehensive lecture hall, multi-functional hall, digital cinema screening room, LED large screen, and 4D cinema offer platforms for exhibitions and exchanges. The use of geothermal heat pumps and photovoltaic power generation enhances energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Technologies such as intelligent building control and information release systems make management and services more convenient and user-friendly. The application of RFID technology enables self-service borrowing and returning, improving the quality and efficiency of literature management and reader services.

Since its opening, the new Jilin Provincial Library has adhered to the philosophy of “building the library through scholarship, thriving through service, strengthening through talent, and energizing through collaboration.” It actively organizes a series of reader activities, allowing the public to enjoy library services equally, freely, and without barriers. The “Cultural Jilin” service brand, which includes the “Cultural Jilin” Lecture Series, “Cultural Jilin • World of Books Reading Club,” various exhibitions, public cultural exchange promotion platforms, and performance events, hosts over 100 activities annually. Other flagship programs such as the Jilin Provincial Library Alliance, Reading Base for Migrant Workers’ Children, “Jilin Cloud Library” mobile reading service, and information consultation services for the provincial “Two Sessions” are also regularly offered, conducting over 200 activities throughout the year. In terms of extended services, the library has established 23 branches and circulation stations, over 120 community reading rooms, 65 student reading rooms, and 10 “Satellite Libraries” in collaboration with the Provincial Government Offices Work Committee, earning widespread acclaim from all sectors of society.

In the process of building a culturally strong province, the Jilin Provincial Library is committed to making the new library a hub for learning, communication, and culture for the citizens of Changchun. It aims to create a spiritual home full of knowledge, wisdom, and sunshine for the people of the Spring City, contributing to the promotion of nationwide reading and the joint creation of a bookish society.

Admission: Free (a library card can be obtained with an ID card)

Opening Hours: 8:00–19:00

Address: Intersection of Renmin Street and South Third Ring Road, Nanguan District, Changchun

Transportation: Take bus routes 252, 66, etc.