Libraries in the People's Republic of China: A Report of a Visit, June I976

The state of development and the organization of the public and university library service of the People's Republic of China, as seen in June 1976 by a party of British librarians, are described. Particular emphasis is laid on the fact that libraries are not treated as in any way separate from the rest of socialist Chinese society; on the educational and political activities of librarians; and on the efforts which have been made since about 1973 to extend the library service to the grass-roots level. Access to the libraries, the amount of publication, and the tools of biblio graphic control are considered, as is the training of librarians. Finally, some of the major libraries are described in more detail, and an impression of the libraries' conservation work is given.