China has more digital readers than ever. By the end of 2025, its digital user base reached 689 million, and the total number of digital reading works exceeded 70 million titles, according to industry reports. Amid that surge, attracting readers back to physical spaces remains a challenge.
Xiaohong Li, a Beijing parent of two, rarely takes her children to the library anymore. “We have collections of books at home, and with so much available online, reading there feels more convenient,” she said.
This shift in reading habits is playing out across China, compelling community libraries to find new ways to use technology to bring readers back through their doors.
The Capital Library of China created a “Reading Garden” project that creatively blends digital tracking with children’s physical reading, winning second place at the 2025 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) International Marketing Award.
Even as China leads globally in library awards, its community libraries are redefining their role from collections to community engagement to bring readers back. “A library’s function is divided into collection and service,” said Xing Zhao, an associate research librarian at Beijing Normal University. “In an age when people could easily access digital copies, our value now lies in our services.”
By hosting workshops, lectures, and providing access to cutting-edge technology, libraries are creating vibrant public spaces for social interaction. This September, the Xicheng District Children’s Library in Beijing launched a “Science Popularization Month”. It hosted a science-themed book fair featuring hands-on experiments like 3D printing and compressed air rockets, alongside book-swapping events.
“What makes community libraries irreplaceable is hosting more events that invite children to walk in and join sharing activities,” Li said. “Using reading as a medium for activities is far more meaningful for children than reading alone at home.”
Beyond individual reading, libraries carry a wider social purpose. “As a cultural space, physical community libraries will not vanish, but will expand and become richer,” said Shuning Li, a research librarian at Beijing Normal University. “They cultivate a cultural atmosphere that digital reading cannot replace.”
In a digital era, Chinese community libraries are proving their worth not by what they store, but by whom they bring together.
（Huiting Xiao, Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus）