The cultural and educational activities of Chinese public libraries as exemplified by libraries in Shanghai, Xichang and Chengdu

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present to Polish readers a general picture of the cultural and educational activities of public libraries in the People’s Republic of China. The author uses as his examples the Eastern Branch of the Shanghai Public Library, Public Library in Xichang and the Library of the Sichuan Province in Chengdu. The main sources of information for the article are the websites of the analysed libraries, books and other publications devoted to librarianship in China as well as individual interviews with library staff members and curators. The author examines the dynamic development of libraries in China, their new functions and various forms of activity.