Changchun Library

Changchun Library

After more than a century of development, Changchun Library has grown into a cultural knowledge-sharing space integrating functions such as culture, education, and leisure. Upholding the philosophy of “public welfare, openness, equality, and inclusiveness” and the service tenet of “people-oriented and service-first,” it spreads knowledge and serves society. By offering large-scale, intelligent, 24/7, and easily accessible services, it enhances the cultural life quality of Changchun residents. The library has been honored with numerous awards including National Civilized Unit, Advanced Cultural System Unit, National First-Class Library, Reader’s Favorite Public Library, and National Demonstration Base for Promoting Nationwide Reading.

Changchun Library currently operates three branches, with a total construction area of approximately 35,000 square meters. It employs 178 staff members, including 162 technical professionals, accounting for 91% of the total workforce. The library is open free of charge all year round, offering 75.5 service hours per week. Its collection now totals over 3.6 million volumes (items), with 110TB of digital resources stored locally. It receives about 1.3 million visitors annually, lends nearly 1 million items per year, and organizes 400 to 500 events per year. The library spaces feature an open-layout, multi-functional design, realizing integrated services of storage, consultation, borrowing, and reading. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and self-service equipment are fully utilized, and wireless internet coverage is available throughout, ensuring efficient and convenient services. Functional areas include document lending sections, Bajiaoxuan, Digital Reading Experience Area, Citizen Digital Learning Center, self-study area, among others. In particular, in line with the principle of tailored services, special reading rooms are set up for elderly readers, visually impaired individuals, and toddlers, enabling targeted services. Additionally, to meet and facilitate reader needs, facilities such as a reader restaurant, café, resting area, elevators, accessible passageways for people with disabilities, and self-service lockers are provided, creating a better reading and leisure environment for patrons.

Changchun Library actively explores and innovates service models, expanding both internal and external service dimensions, and has established a comprehensive model for promoting nationwide reading and social education activities. Through a “festivals + brands” approach, it creates an atmosphere for nationwide reading by organizing themed reading events throughout the year on occasions such as traditional festivals, the Changchun Citizens’ Reading Festival, World Book Day (April 23), Library Service Promotion Week, summer reading season, and school holidays. Meanwhile, it has developed a “14+7” model—running 14 flagship programs such as the “Urban Hot Read” public lecture series, “Little Sapling” parent-child reading activities, “Changtu Elegant Sound” art salon, “Changtu Exhibitions,” “Changtu Public Welfare Classes,” “Reading Club” book club meetings, “Golden Years” senior readers’ activities, “Warm Moments” cultural support for the disabled, and “Love to E-Read,” while implementing the “Seven Entries” strategy—bringing reading activities into communities, schools, hospitals, and other venues—to integrate reading services into citizens’ daily lives. Regarding system development, it has formed an urban reading network consisting of the central library (Changchun Library), district/county libraries as regional main libraries, community/street libraries as branch outlets, along with demonstration branches, reading rooms, 24-hour self-service libraries, mobile book vans, bookstores, digital libraries, mobile apps, and WeChat platforms—a blend of physical and virtual resources.

Guided by the vision of “nurturing urban culture and leading reading trends,” Changchun Library has set the goal of becoming “the city’s center for knowledge and information, a hub for learning and exchange among citizens, and a cultural leisure destination for the public.” It will further promote nationwide reading, enable more people to enjoy equitable access to library services, enhance public satisfaction with cultural services, and play an active role in the city’s cultural development.

Address: No. 1956, Tongzhi Street, Changchun City