Sihong County Library

Sihong County Library

The Sihong County Library serves as a patriotic education base.

The Sihong County Library was established in 1956 and is one of the first 13 public libraries founded in Jiangsu Province. It currently has a construction area of 4,500 M2, a collection of over 300,000 books, 20 staff members, an annual addition of more than 20,000 books, subscriptions to over 500 kinds of newspapers and periodicals, 342 reading seats for readers, and 62 electronic reading seats. It offers free access all year round, 365 days a year. In the fifth evaluation and grading of public libraries in 2013, it retained its status as a National “First-Class Library.”

The Sihong County Library is oriented toward automation, networking, and digitalization. It implements open-shelf services and integrated borrowing and reading, offering services such as book lending, newspaper and periodical reading, electronic reading, information retrieval, exhibition display, expert lectures, and academic conferences. The library consists of 15 departments: Literature Room, Newspaper and Periodical Reading Room, Visually Impaired Readers’ Lending Room, Acquisition and Cataloging Room, Self-study Room, General Lending Room, Electronic Reading Room, Shared Project Sub-Center, Children’s Lending Room, Cang Xiuliang Library, Local Literature Room, Multi-functional Lecture Hall, Multi-functional Exhibition Hall, Resource Room, and Grassroots Guidance Department.

The Sihong County Library is dedicated to building a service model of a main library and branch libraries. In 2014, it established a mutual borrowing and returning service model with 16 township libraries across the county. By 2015, 122 of the county’s 240 rural libraries had implemented mutual borrowing and returning with the county library. Circulation service points were also set up at physical bookstores—such as Buké Concept Bookstore—and at the Armed Police Force and Sunset Red Senior Care Home. Moreover, a mobile service vehicle is used to deliver books to schools and communities.

In recent years, with the care and support of leaders at all levels and all sectors of society, the library has strived to improve its services and committed itself to popularizing knowledge, creating a county of book culture, promoting nationwide reading, and enhancing the overall quality of residents. Relying on the “Shared Project,” its brand service programs such as the “Sishui Forum,” information services, and film appreciation have gained recognition. Continuously held events like the “Colorful Winter” and “Colorful Summer” series have earned widespread praise from the public.

In 2014, the brand activity project “Sishui Forum” was recognized by the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department as an “Excellent Forum in Jiangsu Province” and won the Third Prize for Outstanding Service Achievements of the Sixth Jiangsu Public Libraries. The “Farmers’ Science and Technology Enrichment Training” project was commended by the Provincial Nationwide Reading Leadership Office as an outstanding activity under the “Hand in Hand for Nationwide Reading · Spring Breeze Action.” The “Red Reading” essay competition was awarded an Organizational Award by the Provincial Department of Culture. In 2014, the library was honored as a Civilized Unit of Suqian City by the Suqian Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. In 2015, it was recognized by the Provincial Press and Publication Bureau as an Advanced County in the Pilot Project for Enhancing Rural Libraries across the Province.

With its comfortable and elegant environment, novel and abundant resources, and warm and thoughtful services, the library has attracted a large number of readers. It is gradually becoming integrated into people’s lives, serving as the city’s living room and the citizens’ classroom.