Problems and prospects of residential community libraries

By Zhao Hongyi
Two years ago, the municipal government appealed to all communities to set up their own libraries and encourage residents to donate books.

As of June, this plan to create community-level cultural centers has resulted in the creation of 1,292 new libraries.

But at many, management and staff say development has come to a screeching halt. Many are still searching for a sustainable model and new ways to attract readers.
Exodus of readers

“With the semester about to start, our readers are mainly kids and their grandparents. Our volunteer operators are vanishing back to school.”
- Mou Li, volunteer, Sanhuan Xincheng Community Library
It has been unusually quiet at the Sanhuan Xincheng community library since the new semester began.

While elementary and high school student readers are busy preparing for the new school year, the college-age temps that made up the library staff have abandoned the project for campus life.

Ostensibly, the library is still open – even though the lights are out and the staff is gone. “In principle, we are open as long as we have readers. But when no one comes, we have to shut down,” Mou Li, one of the volunteers, said.

The library space has been handed back to the community center for the time being.

Sanhuan Xincheng has a collection of more than 8,000 books and magazines. Aside from its large collection of fiction, it also has non-fiction titles for adult readers interested in child rearing, healthcare and business management.

“The community is hoping to find new volunteers among the retirees and housewives,” Mou said.
Facing difficulties

“We have a hard time getting the books out there and keeping a permanent venue.”
- Lan Niao, Huilongguan Kids Library

“We don’t have the money to buy the new titles that could attract readers.”
- Li Xin, Anzhen Xi Li Community Library
Sanhuan Xincheng library is not alone in its problems.

In the two years since the government called for community libraries, 1,292 opened to serve 49 percent of the city’s residential communities.

“We ask residents to donate their books and magazines and budget to purchase books,” said Sun Yuetang from the Shenggu residential community. “Nearly 90 percent of our books are donated. But we still cannot meet the residents’ demands for newer, better books.”

Huilongguan, a huge community outside North Fifth Ring Road, has had a library since 2008. Volunteers from the neighborhood maintain the library and raise 1,200 yuan each year to purchase new books. It recently opened a second library to target young readers.

“We have to rent space in senior sports center,” Lan Niao, one of the volunteers, said, “For us, that’s the biggest headache. We never know when they will force us to move out.”

Lan and her volunteers started their library in a farmer’s yard and later moved to a coffee bar. Finding readers has not been a problem: finding somewhere to store equipment and books has.

At Anzhen Xi Li, the community library has tens of thousands of books and dozens of periodicals. Local residents like the library, and nearly 100 of them are regular readers who spend their days there. Its computer network is connected to Capital Library, allowing readers to search the larger library for books they might need.

“It is quiet here, very nice and comfortable,” said Li Shouqing, a retired local resident and old acquaintance of the library.

But Anzhen’s library faces the problem of a permanent venue. It is currently located on the noisiest corner of the residential park, and many visitors have complained, asking for a quieter location, Li Xin, one of the operators, said.

New books, however, are not a problem. Li said the library has close ties with several other large community libraries, and they rotate stock on a regular basis.

Because the library is run as a non-profit with no backing, Li can only open it during working hours. “We cannot afford the electricity and water to keep it open longer.”

Without a budget, a permanent location, a growing collection of books and new readers, Lan and Li said they fear it may be difficult to continue.
Creative solutions

“We can walk out to collect books from government agencies, embassies and universities to enrich our own collections.”
- Jim Habib, retired American in Tongzhou
The library-building campaign caught the attention of several foreigners who decided to start an English library. Jim Habib and his wife Lorene are one of the couples maintaining a small English library in Tongzhou District.

Aside from calling for donations, the couple actively solicits books and magazines from the embassies and colleges. They hope their small library can eventually become a bookstore and English club.

“We have to take the initiative to collect books and magazines if we are determined to build up our library,” Habib said.

But like other libraries, the Habibs’ also needs permanent staff and regular volunteers.

“Communities should try to hire people who have social work experience and who know how to make connections to solve problems,” said Yang Rong, an assistant professor of social management at Beijing University of Technology.

Some of that networking may be tackled by Capital Library.

“We are building a network of community libraries that will be based on four levels: municipality, downtown residential communities, suburb districts and the rural countryside,” Deng Juying, vice curator of the Capital Library, the proposer of the initiative, said in an interview.

Last year, the municipal government started a fund that will be used to supply each district with a yearly sum of 1.5 million yuan to be used for new books. Dongcheng District has already organized a center to oversee purchases, distribution and circulation between all libraries under its control.

“We are still just getting starts, so I’m sure things will improve once the government starts to support our best efforts,” Yang said.

“Community libraries aren’t about size,” Deng said.

“Of course, we most certainly would expand given the opportunity.”