National Library of China

The National Library of China is very big.

It is in a place called Beijing. This library has many items to read. It has books and music and maps. Some things are very old.

They have bones with writing from long ago. The library started a long time ago in 1909. It was first for the leaders of the land. Now, many people can visit it. It is a great place to learn new things.

The National Library of China is one of the biggest libraries in the world.

It is in Beijing. By the end of 2020, it had over 41 million items. This includes books, maps, and even music recordings. It has items in 123 different languages.

The library has a very long history. It began in 1909. At first, it was called the Imperial Peking Library. It was started by the Qing government. Later, in 1999, it got its current name.

The library holds many old and rare things. Some items are more than 3,000 years old. These are oracle bones from the Yin Ruins.

They have writing on them. The library also has stone classics.

These are old carvings on stone. The library grew by getting collections from royal families. It also got books from private owners. Today, the library is still growing. It adds about one million new volumes every year.

The National Library of China is a huge place for learning. It is located in the Haidian district of Beijing. This library is one of the largest in the entire world. As of December 2020, it held over 41 million items. It covers a massive area of 280,000 square meters.

The library is a public service funded by the government. It helps people research and learn about many different subjects.

There are many ways to explore the library's treasures. It holds items in 123 different languages. You can find books, journals, and old newspapers there. It also keeps music recordings, videos, and even maps.

Much of the library is now digital. The digital collection is over 1000 TB in size. It grows by about 100 TB every single year. This helps people access information using computers.

The library has a very long and interesting history. It started in 1909 as the Imperial Peking Library. This was created by the Qing government. At first, it was located at the Guanghua Temple. That site was a bit too damp for books.

In 1912, it opened to the public. Later, in 1999, it received its current name. It has moved to more modern buildings since then.

The collections inside are truly amazing and very old. Some items are oracle bones from over 3,000 years ago. The library also has the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. This was a huge set of books from 1782.

It also keeps rare stone carvings called the Xiping Stone Classics. There are also 16,000 manuscripts from the Mogao Caves. These items come from royal families and private owners.

Today, the library continues to grow and change. It adds about one million new volumes every year. It works with other famous libraries around the world. For example, it once exchanged books with Columbia University. It also has links with the Australian National University.

The library uses advanced computer systems to manage everything. It remains a vital part of how people find information. It connects the ancient past to our modern digital world.

The National Library of China (NLC) is a massive institution located in the Haidian district of Beijing. It serves as the national library for the country and ranks among the largest libraries globally. As of December 2020, the NLC held more than 41 million items. It covers a total area of 280,000 square meters. The library functions as a public welfare institution. It receives its funding from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This institution is essential for preserving Chinese history and providing research tools to the public.

The library manages a vast and complex collection of information. It stores materials in 123 different languages. The items come in many formats, including print and digital versions. Users can access books, manuscripts, journals, and newspapers. The collection also includes magazines, sound recordings, music, and videos. Other items include play-scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, and drawings. The digital resources are particularly large. They exceed 1,000 TB and grow by approximately 100 TB every year.

The library is organized into several distinct parts to manage its size. It consists of the North Complex and the South Complex. There is also a specialized Ancient Books Hall. For younger visitors, there is a dedicated Children's Hall. Additionally, the NLC manages seventeen dispatched research libraries. These libraries serve various departments of the central government and the Academy of Military Sciences. This structure allows the institution to act as both a major research center and a public library.

The history of the NLC began in the early 20th century. In 1909, the Qing government founded the institution as the Imperial Peking Library. This followed requests from high officials in provinces like Shandong and Yunnan to establish public libraries. A leader named Zhang Zhidong requested a library in the capital. The foundation was approved by imperial edict on September 9, 1909. At first, the library was located at the Guanghua Temple. However, the temple was too damp for storing books for long periods.

As political systems changed, so did the library. In 1912, after the last emperor abdicated, the library became the National Peking Library. It was managed by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China. In 1928, when the name of Beijing changed to Beiping, the library became the National Peiping Library. After the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, it was renamed the National Peking Library again. Finally, in 1999, it officially became the National Library of China. In 1987, the library moved to its modern location in the Haidian District.

The collections within the NLC are incredibly old and rare. They include items inherited from royal collections dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. The oldest items are oracle bones from the Yin Ruins, which are over 3,000 years old. The library holds the only surviving complete copy of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries from 1782. It also contains over 35,000 inscriptions on oracle bones and tortoise shells. Other treasures include 16,000 manuscripts from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang.

The NLC is a vital part of the global information network. It maintains international connections to help develop library science. In 1963, it started a materials exchange program with Columbia University. It also established links with the Australian National University. To improve professional training, librarians from the NLC spent time at the Library of Congress and Yale University. In 2001, a major project was launched to expand digital collections and IT infrastructure. This project involved a total national investment of $1.23 billion. This investment helped the NLC join the ranks of the world's most advanced libraries.