Wang Lili

 Abstract

Public Library service in Shanghai has made tremendous achievements, especially in networking development, since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This article reviews the history of the library services; the newly–built Shanghai Library, second–largest library in China; the development of the three–level (municipal, district or country, and street or town) public library; and children’s library systems. The Shanghai Library has been moving swiftly towards the twenty–first century.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October 1949, many changes have taken place for public libraries. Successes have been scored in developing public libraries, and in providing social education or services in politics, economics, scientific research, and culture, especially in the establishment of the three–level network of public libraries in the Shanghai region. This paper will describe the newly–built Shanghai Library and the development of a three–level network of public libraries to meet the challenge of the next century.

 The Development of the Municipal Public Library and the New Library

In June 1949, the Educational Section for Municipal Affairs of the Committee of Shanghai Military Control took over the only public library and rebuilt it at the municipal level — the People’s Library of Shanghai. But the library was too small to meet the needs of a big city. Mayor Chen Yi instructed the city government to extend it into a large public library. A new municipal public library was born on 22 July 1952, with a space of 5,000 square meters, a collection of 700,000 volumes, and 150 staff members.

During the early years of the People’s Republic of China, many private libraries were donated to the state. From 1952 to early 1956, the Cultural Bureau of the Municipal Government took over seven private libraries, and merged or rebuilt them into three professional public libraries, specializing in, respectively, historical documentation, science and technology, and periodicals. In October 1958, the Cultural Bureau merged the Xu Jia Hui Catholic Church library with the three professional public libraries to form the Shanghai Library, a large, comprehensive public library. It occupied 20,000 square meters, with a collection of more than 4 million volumes and 304 staff members.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Shanghai Municipal Government devoted more attention to the development of public libraries. From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the Shanghai Library built an additional 14,000 square meters of stack space. After 44 years’ effort, Shanghai Library has become the second–largest library in China with 36,740 square meters of space, a collection of 8,350,000 volumes, and nearly 700 staff members.

 The Three–Level Network of Public Libraries

The Shanghai system consists of libraries on these three levels: municipal, district or country, and street or town. This three–level network provides for resources sharing, librarians’ vocational training, significant professional activities, and academic research.

The Establishment and Development of Public Libraries at the District or County Level

During the mid–1950s, the preliminary recovery of Shanghai’s economy and the rapid development of book publishing provided bases for librarianship. Meanwhile, the popularization of civil education made it urgently necessary to develop public libraries. Beginning in 1956, the Cultural Bureau built reading rooms in each district. These were set up originally by the People’s Library of Shanghai as district–level libraries in order to meet the increasing cultural demands of the masses. Two years later, libraries at the district or county level were set up, one after another, in each county of the suburban areas of Shanghai. Under the joint efforts of governments at the municipal and district or county levels, fourteen district libraries and eleven county libraries were set up from 1956 to 1960. (These were later merged into twelve district libraries and ten county libraries in accordance with the redividing of the administrative jurisdiction.) At an early stage, there were over 1,645,800 volumes of holdings, and 193 staff members, in those fourteen district libraries, with annual acquisition fees of 244,800 yuan. Similarly, there were altogether over 52,500 volumes of holdings and 79 staff members in the eleven county libraries, with annual acquisition fees of 61,140 yuan. These district and country libraries provided services mainly for the Party and government authorities, as well as for local enterprises or institutions. They also met the needs of the people for scientific and cultural knowledge.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Party, a second movement of acquiring scientific and cultural knowledge began in Shanghai. A great number of young and middle–aged readers poured into libraries at the district or county level. The problem of insufficient space became serious, because of a sharp increase in both readers and book holdings. The latter was caused by the unprecedented boom in publishing brought about by the cultural rehabilitation. On the basis of the economic recovery taking place gradually, governments at the municipal and district or county levels earmarked 9,631,000 yuan to erect new library buildings in six districts and ten counties, while expanding two district library buildings. At the same time, cultural authorities at municipal and district or county levels enhanced the vocational operations of these libraries; launched a campaign to evaluate and readjust holdings in district or county libraries; replaced the original Classification Scheme for Medium and Small–Sized Libraries with the Classification System for Chinese Libraries; amplified official catalogs and public catalogs; spelled out responsibilities for each staff member; formulated Working Regulations of Libraries at the District or County Level in Shanghai; expanded circulation services; and conducted training for professional staff members. In order to make it easier for readers to borrow books, municipal and district or county governments paid special attention to the densely populated areas. Deviating from the old situation of one library in each administrative area, a new framework was formed with several libraries in each, thus increasing service to these areas. Up to 1988, there were eighteen district libraries and nineteen county libraries (including branches) in the Shanghai region.

A number of library buildings at the district or county level, as well as libraries for residential areas, were built during the period from 1988 to 1995. Now, after the readjustment of administrative areas at the district or county level, there are twenty district libraries and libraries of residential areas, and six county libraries, occupying a total area of 80,239 square meters. They have 890 staff members, 6,700,000 volumes, 16,839 subscriptions to newspapers and journals, and 9,196 seats for readers. About 239,000 ID cards have been issued to borrowers; 6,545,498 readers are received annually; and the annual book circulation is 16,311,400 volumes. The tasks of libraries at the district or county level are mainly the popularization and expansion of social education, the enhancement of scientific and cultural knowledge among citizens, and the full exploitation of documentary resources so as to provide services for the local economy, and for research and culture. Libraries in different districts or counties all carry out various and flexible services with their own characteristics, and these have been well received by numerous citizens and readers.

The Establishment and Popularization of Libraries at the Street or Town Level

In 1958, a tidal wave of cultural construction emerged, including the popularization of primary school education and an extensive campaign to eliminate illiteracy. Public libraries at the municipal and district or county levels could no longer meet the demands of readers in urban and suburban areas. Public librarianship cannot develop without an economic foundation, and the city government could not simultaneously establish more libraries at the district or county level, while giving more money to widely extend public service to all corners of the region. The thing to do was to have the libraries run by citizens at the grassroots. District governments of Shanghai municipality put forward slogans to inspire the extension of library service all over the district, so that workers needn’t step out of their factory gate to borrow books, and residents needn’t go out of their lanes. In June 1958, a street library was founded at Dongxincun, the first of its kind in Shanghai. Later, within a period of two months, 14 similar libraries were established. The Cultural Bureau held a meeting in Putuo District, publicizing the experience of the citizen library of Dongxincun Street. After that meeting, 836 similar citizen libraries emerged in the city area. In October, the Citizen Library of Maqiao People’s Commune in Shanghai County was born, and 61 citizen libraries at the commune (later changed to town) level were set up, one after another, in suburban areas of the Shanghai region. But, half a year later, some of these libraries at the street or lane level could not maintain their regular operations, because of insufficient funds and personnel, and a bad choice of location. Facing such a difficult situation, the Cultural Bureau advocated a readjustment and consolidation of citizen libraries at the street or lane level. As a result, in 1959, 234 street libraries were closed and 602 were consolidated. It was stipulated that the main financial resource for citizen libraries should come from readers, in accordance with the principle that everybody reads books while everybody buys books. The government provided some financial assistance. Citizen libraries are operated under the dual leadership of the district government and the street administrative bodies. In 1962, Regulations for Vocational Operations of Libraries at the Street or Lane Level in Shanghai were formulated. The Regulations provide guidelines for these libraries. With the continuous efforts of government at all levels, citizen libraries have spread throughout the urban and suburban areas of Shanghai. They serve collective enterprises and institutions, mass organizations, residents, and —especially— youngsters. They play an important role (which cannot be played by libraries at the municipal and district levels) in popularizing knowledge of science and culture among laboring people, enriching the lives of local residents, cultivating youngsters to be useful, and publicizing policies made by the Party and government. In 1962, the Meifangli Library of Putuo District was chosen as a national model unit, and its representatives attended a national conference of outstanding workers in the cultural and educational fields held in Beijing. In 1965, 443 citizen libraries at the street or lane level (96 street libraries and 347 lane libraries) were set up in Shanghai, with a total of 1,040,000 volumes and 536 staff members. Over 100,000 readers frequent libraries daily.

In 1979, cultural bureaus at the municipal and district levels conducted a complete readjustment of citizen libraries at the street or lane level, in collaboration with the street administrative bodies of their localities. Many problems were solved, including rational distribution, funds sources, and professional ranks. Based on the readjustment, each district library helped street libraries in its district to perform such fundamental operations as checking holdings; adopting the uniform Classification Scheme of Medium and Small–Sized Libraries; and, providing extensive training for the professional staff. Along with the deepening of economic reform in the countryside and the cultural demands which ensued, village book rooms (originally at the commune level) were renovated. In 1984, the Cultural Bureau decided to establish citizen libraries in the city’s suburban areas. In recent years citizen libraries have experienced further growth along with the development of the national economy and the increasing desire for cultural and scientific knowledge of residents in the city’s metropolitan and suburban areas. Over the years, citizen libraries have been established in every corner of the Shanghai region, like stars scattered all over the sky. Currently, there are 370 libraries (or book rooms) at the street or town level with more than 28,000 square meters in area, 900 staff members, 3,800,000 volumes, 32,800 subscriptions to newspapers and journals, 9,900 seats for readers, annual visits by 7,630,000 readers, and 14,033,000 volumes circulated in a year.

These hundreds of libraries work actively in every corner of the metropolitan and suburban areas of Shanghai, and have made important contributions to publicizing policies put forward by the Party and the government, increasing the residents’ knowledge of science and culture, enriching the lives of elderly people, promoting family reading activities, and promoting the civilization of the whole society. More significantly, these libraries have played a role which can not be played by libraries at the municipal and district or county levels.

 The Preliminary Establishment of the Three–Level Network of Public Libraries for Children

The Establishment and Development of Children’s Libraries at the Municipal Level

Before 1949, there was only a citizen–run Shanghai Juvenile Library with some 40,000 volumes and seven staff members. With no fixed financial resources, the library relied mainly on donations. Beginning in May 1950, the Temporary Joint Committee for Relief in Shanghai allocated funds monthly to bring this library into full operation. With fixed funds, the juvenile library started developing its vocational work in the city. In September 1952, the board of the library decided to give the library to the government. The Cultural Bureau accepted it in November, and changed its name to Shanghai Children’s Library.

The Cultural Bureau valued the library highly, doubled its space, and increased its personnel up to thirty–one staff members early the next year. By the end of the 1950s, the Shanghai Children’s Library was the largest and most influential such library in China. There were 200,000 volumes, with over 5,600 titles of excellent children’s reading materials, including many original editions. There were three reading rooms with a capacity of 750 seats. Therefore, it qualified as a children’s library at the municipal level. In July 1957, a meeting was held to summarize the experience of Shanghai Children’s Library, insofar as that experience might be helpful in promoting and developing other children’s libraries. In the same year, the library became the only one of its kind in China open to the international community, as stipulated by the Ministry of Culture.

After 1978, the education of children was re–evaluated, and the Cultural Bureau strove to enhance the work of the library by enriching its holdings, adjusting its staff, and expanding the scope of its services. People gradually recognized that children’s libraries were libraries of a special kind.

Since 1987, Shanghai Children’s Library has became the center of a network of Shanghai children’s libraries, and has been designated the chief library of the Cooperative Committee of Public Children’s Libraries in the East China Region. At present, the library has 3,118 square meters in area, 215,880 volumes, 410 subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, and 513 seats for readers. Its organizational structure consists of a Circulation Department, Reading Department, Acquisition and Cataloguing Department, Activities Center for Children Before School Age, Foreign Language Reading Room, Audiovisual Room, Computer Room, Department of Professional Guidance, and Room for Professional Studies. The Circulation Department and the Reading Department provide services for children as well as for teachers and juvenile workers. Nowadays, the library receives 124,130 readers annually, and circulates 685,160 volumes.

The Preliminary Establishment of Children’s Libraries at the District or County Level

During the mid–1950s, numerous primary schools were set up in the Shanghai region. In order to coordinate school education and enrich children’s readings after class, the Cultural Bureau promoted library services by setting up circulating book stations in schools and children’s parks, as well as by establishing children’s reading rooms in different districts and counties. At that time, sixty children’s reading rooms were established in Shanghai.

Starting in 1988, regular meetings concerning the work of children’s libraries at the district or county level were sponsored by the Shanghai Children’s Library. Thus, a network of children’s libraries at the municipal and district or county levels has taken shape. At present, there are twenty’four children’s libraries (or book rooms) at the district or county level. They provide services to students of primary and middle schools in their localities and act as centers for carrying out various reading activities among local young readers. Besides, they are centers of local networks of children’s libraries, and provide professional guidance to those at the street or town level.

The Widespread Establishment of Children’s Libraries (or Book Rooms) at the Street or Town Level

During the period of Shanghai young pioneers’ reading activities in 1979, a very simple and crude children’s library was set up at Yuyuan Street, Nanshi District, for the street youngsters. After its opening, such an inappropriate library unexpectedly attracted more than 80 percent of the children in the street. For youngsters, it was inconvenient to go to children’s libraries at the municipal and district levels, far from their homes. Now the street library was opened in front of their home, and young readers could go there every day to borrow or read books and magazines. These qualities of being near and convenient could not be matched by libraries at the municipal and district levels. The government of Nanshi District decided to establish a network of children’s libraries within the whole district. When Dongjiadu Street could not set up its children’s library because of problems with housing, the director of the district resolved the problem by working with local officials. By the end of 1981, thirteen streets in Nanshi District had established children’s libraries. In May 1981, when the Ministry of Culture held a symposium on children’s libraries, the Children’s Library of Yuyuan Street was praised and given an award, and its representative delivered a speech. In order to put into effect the spirit of this symposium, and promote the development of children’s libraries at the street level, the Cultural Bureau held a meeting in Nanshi District in June 1981. After the meeting, various districts and counties went into action, overcame various difficulties, and setup over eighty children's libraries at the street or town level. In 1982, the Cultural Bureau held a conference to promote the swift development of children’s libraries in the Shanghai region. It was stipulated that governments at various levels would subsidize the operations of each street library and children’s library. By the end of 1982, a network of children’s libraries in Shanghai was finally established. At present, children’s libraries or their service extensions have radiated to 74 streets and 62 towns within the metropolitan area. They were visited by 1,922,600 young readers annually; 3,247,200 volumes were circulated; and 1,404 reading activities were conducted. This has greatly facilitated library utilization by young readers of the city, and enriched their extracurricular readings.

As of now there are 557 public libraries in the Shanghai region. The coverage afforded by their three–level network gives the Shanghai public libraries and their service extensions a leading position in the country. These libraries are a model for the rest of China.

As we approach the twenty–first century, Shanghai’s economy and culture will continue to thrive, and the city’s three–level network of public libraries will be further strengthened for the people.

 Notes

This paper is a Revised version of a paper presented at the IFLA Conference in August 1996 in Beijing.

 References

Files of the Cultural Bureau of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

Files of the Shanghai Library.

Statistical materials of Shanghai Children’s Library.

 About the Author

Wang Lili is Associate Research Librarian and Section Chief, Management and Administration, Shanghai Library, People’s Republic of China.

©1996 Wang Lili.