China's first national public library law will come into effect on January 1st, 2018, China News Service reported.

 

中国新闻网报道，中国首个国家级公共图书馆法案将于2018年1月1日生效。

 

Promulgated¹ in November, the new law stipulates² various aspects concerning the establishment, daily operation, service, and legal liability for Chinese public libraries.

 

The new law encourages social participation³ in public libraries, with the government remaining in a leading role.

 

Public libraries can take a donor's name, and those who make donations to a public library may enjoy tax incentives⁴. At the same time, society should be involved in the evaluation⁵ process of public libraries, the law stated.

 

It also specifies⁶ obligations for Chinese public libraries.

 

According to the law, a public library should provide four kinds of services for free, including offering inquiry⁷ and borrowing services for document information, opening its public spaces such as reading rooms, organizing public lectures, reading promotion⁸ activities, training and exhibitions.

 

Public libraries are required to open on weekends and legal holidays, and government-funded ones should set up a reading area for children as well as take the needs of elderly and disabled groups into account.

 

The law also emphasizes privacy protection issues, noting public libraries are responsible for preventing readers' personal information from being divulged⁹.

点击收听单词发音