A reading nation

Fourteen libraries in Beijing launched book-exchange markets on the weekend, where readers bring books to exchange. Organizers say more than 20,000 books and magazines were exchanged at the main venue in the Capital Library and more than 1,500 people of all ages took part in the event.

Zhou Qi, a college student who participated in the book exchange, says: "Yesterday I read an article saying that these days, fewer people visit libraries to borrow books. But I don't think that's because people no longer read. It may come as a result of lower book prices, and people can buy books themselves."

"People around me still read a lot, although they are not necessarily reading printed books," says Zhou.

With digital reading becoming more popular, the National Library of China will also launch a free online learning platform on Thursday, sharing recordings of 1,000 lectures that have been held in the institute, along with its collection of 33.77 million books, covering fields such as art, law, popular science and Chinese cultural heritage.

"Public libraries are responsible for keeping a society's cultural legacy, for educating the public and promoting reading," says Han Yongjin, director of the National Library of China. "We have always been devoted to these goals and the online project is just one of our recent efforts."

The 12th National Reading Survey, organized by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication, was released on April 20, which also suggests the same trend－that digital reading is gradually overtaking traditional reading in China.

According to the survey, in the past year, the average Chinese person read 7.78 books a year, including 4.56 printed books and 3.22 electronic books, and people who read on computers, cellphones or tablets has reached 58.1 percent, exceeding the number of people who read printed books by 0.1 percent for the first time.

"The survey also shows that more than 68 percent of people want to attend more reading activities, and the call for more reading events from rural residents is even higher, reaching 72.3 percent," says Wei Yushan, the head of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication.

"The current reading festivals or campaigns are mostly in cities, and therefore we suggest that more events be organized in villages to satisfy the need for books in these areas."

Shi Jing contributed to the story.