Peking University, October 31, 2023: Peking University (PKU) Library, the largest university library in Asia, marked its 125th anniversary on Oct. 28. Over the past century and a quarter, the PKU Library has undergone impressive changes and renovations, and its pursuit of eminence remains a cherished tradition.
 
Preserving and nurturing culture with modern techniques

△ The Ancient Books Library of PKU Library


PKU Library is home to nearly 1.6 million ancient books, allowing readers to immerse themselves in China’s rich culture. To keep the books in good condition, the Library employs many of the latest conservation methods. Various special exhibitions and promotional activities have also been organized to improve the accessibility of these volumes to the public.


       
PKU Library places great emphasis on nurturing independent thought and cultivating open-mindedness by collecting both epoch-making masterpieces and the latest academic resources.

  
In the past five years alone, the Library has welcomed more than 60,000 new books with its digital resources exceeding three petabytes (PB, one PB is equal to 1,000 TB). The Library is constantly improving with new reading spaces, new shelves, new exhibitions, etc.

   
Recently, the library website has been upgraded in an effort to provide more personalized online services to its users. The new “Weiming academic search” function brings together 12 databases for a better search experience. New media is also used to digitalize and publicize books and journals so the Library’s collection is more accessible and has a greater reach.

△ The new edition of PKU Library's official website (visit here)
 
Passing down the pursuit of eminence


PKU Library has long been a hub for intellectual growth and deep thinking. New initiatives such as enhancing the Library’s layout and offering dorm delivery for borrowed books exemplify the Library’s reader-oriented principle and commitment to provide the best services to PKUers.
      
PKU Library nurtures the holistic development of students. Not only is professional academic guidance available, various educational activities such as artistic appreciation are often held. Students at PKU are also welcome to partake in the daily operations of the Library as volunteers. (Read more about their stories here.)


     
Pioneering in library services and information technology



Aside from providing exemplary user experience, PKU Library is also a pioneer in library development with its advanced information technology systems. Named as one of the National Tertiary Education Intellectual Property Information Service Centers, the Library aims to shape an academic ecosystem that features openness and promotes interaction.
   
With comprehensive digital infrastructure services, including modular data centers, private cloud computing platforms, and the VDI (Virtual Device Interface) virtualization technology, the Library has established a robust information security system.
  
This is the 125-year-old PKU Library: preserving traditional cultures, keeping up with the times, and ready for an even brighter future!

 
Written by: Zhou Siyan
Edited by: Glenda Ho
Source: PKU News (Chinese)