My Impressions of Chinese Libraries

In a recent survey of Chinese Libraries undertaken on behalf of the Chinese National Library Association，I recently visited thirty libraries in more than ten cities．The work took a month．I addressed librarians in three different places and met many prominent educators both Chinese and foreign，such as Dr．Hu Shih，Dr．Howard Galt，acting president of the Yenching University，Roger S．Greene of the Peking Medical College，Dr．J．L．Davies，acting president of the Cheeloo University，Chancellor Tsai Yuan Pei，Mr．Ye Kung Cho and Mr．Hwang Yen-Pei．I conferred with many of these with regard to the kind of library training that students in the future should receive and had a rare opportunity to discuss with trained librarians，either inpidually or in groups，what special kind of training should be emphasized to fit library students for the present situation on China．

My first visit was to Kaifeng，where I found，to my surprise，that practically the whole land revenue of the province had been set aside for educational purposes．This was due to General Feng Yu Hsiang，whose example has been followed by all his militaristis successors，who have not used any of this revenue for military purposes．Because of their financial independence，the schools have been growing in number．The provisional government has supported not only primary and middle schools but also a university which has just erected a＄160,000 building for its library，all paid for from the provisional treasury．This library spends＄36,000 a year for the purchase of books in foreign languages．Mr．Li Yen-ting，a librarian trained in America，has worked faithfully and quietly to build up this library．A general course on library training is given．In addition to his library work，the librarian is a professor of chemistry，in which he gives two courses．Mr．Li showed me the Provincial Library，where he was revising the catalog，and the Popular Library，situated in the Drum Tower with administrative offices in a separate house below the Tower on the street．It was fully crowded with readers．

My next stop was at Tinghsien，where Dr．V．C．Yen has been working for mass education and rural reconstruction for years．Tinghsien is not an attractive place．To my questionWhy did you choose such a locality as headquarters for this important work？Dr．Yen told me that he had three reasons：First，the result of mass education at this place is more satisfactory than elsewhere；second，the gentry or men of prominence are more inclined to cooperate and have turned overland and buildings for use in the work；and third，the staff members have found this place a good experimental station，as it is not far from Peiping．Dr．Yen said to me：You must secure the services of real readers，if you desire success in your undertaking，and you must present some large project that will appeal to them．If you have the project and the men to carry it into effect，the money will come to you．I asked what part the library should play in such a project．He answered：Library activity is one of my projects，although it is not of primary importance．He said that he would like a library primarily for the use of his staff and secondarily for the use of the people in the rural districts．To carry out such a plan，he would take some men of Henry C．D．Chen's caliber，paying him a salary which I named．Chen is a graduate of our School，who has built up the library of the Chinese Social and Political Association in Peiping．

My next stop was Peiping，where I had not been for four years．The last time I was there was when I went to Europe to attend the first world conference of librarians in Rome．At that time in company with the American Minister Mr．MacMurray，Dr．Y．T．Tsur，Mr．H．C．Zen，and Mr．T．E．Yuen，we visited the new Library building，then still in process of construction．The walls，of Chinese marble，were then only about four feet high．Now the building is completed．It is not only beautiful and imposing but also a store house of rare treasures．It combines Chinese and Western architecture and is amply fitted for the use for which it was erected．This library was built by the China Foundation with the indemnity fund returned by America．The collection of Chinese books，consisting of 50,000 volumes all written by hand，together with numerous printed books of the Sung and later dynasties and many rare manuscripts，formerly belonged to the government and as now incorporated by an agreement with the China Foundation as the National Library of Peiping．Great emphasis is now laid by the library on the purchase of books in foreign languages，back files of scientific journals of different countries，standard works in the large sense，and books not easily found in other Peiping libraries．Those who do search work are finding this library indispensible and it also has many books for circulation．Numerous readers come here daily to copy portions of books not to be found elsewhere in China and there is also a photostate service．I also found in this Library an unique collection models of the Yuen Ming Yuan Palace，the Summer Palace，the Winter Palace and the Imperial Tombs of the Tsing Dynasty．The acting director，our friend Mr．T．L．Yuan，and Dr．Y．T．Tsur，chairman of the building committee，who worked with the director in designing this lovely building，have taken great pains in bringing about the acquisition of the government books as stated above．Mr．Yuan has on his staff over a dozen of our graduator working in different departments and has offered to our school a scholarship of＄200 a year for the training of librarians，beginning next term．

The Chinese Social and Political Science Association has also a new building．The librarian，Mr．Chen has specialized in geology for many years．His Library has a splendid collection of books on political subjects．Among those who were instrumental in organizing the Association and in building the Library are Paul Reinsch，the late American Minister to China，Roger S．Greene，Dr．Willoughby，Dr．Goonow，Dr．Hu Shih and Dr．Y．T．Tsur．Mostly the books are given by American universities．

The Tsing Hua University has just completed an addition almost twice as large as the original building，it has two specious reading rooms and can accommodate 600 readers very comfortably．I am impressed by the systematic administration and by the number of projects that the Library is hoping to carry out．These are made known to the staff and are kept posted in the librarian's office．Each member are required to hand in a daily report of work．Dr．Andrew Wang，one of our graduates，is the librarian，and another of our student is in charge of cataloging．

The Yen Ching University Library，I regret to say，seemed to me not well adapted to its use．The administrative offices are too small and the Library will soon need enlargement．This Library has been greatly benefited by the Harvard-Yenching Institute，supported by the Hall Fund．Many standard Chinese books in large sets and works in China in foreign languages have been liberally brought with this money．The order work is carried on most efficiently．The librarian is Mr．Orval Tien，one of our graduates．In addition to his duties in the Library，he has spent his spare time manufacturing white ink and shellac．Several libraries have brought them from him at reasonable prices．His binding case that he uses for Chinese books is also one of his inventions．

The Library of the Peking Medical College is well classified and cataloged in direction of Mr．T．C．Tai．The classification is based on that of the Boston Medical College Library．The Library has a fine collection of medical journals in addition to books on medicine and surgery．There are a few small reading rooms but the Library has no building of its own．

The Library of the Geological Survey，now several years old，was built with funds contributed by its friends．It is a research Library，having a collection of more than 20,000 volumes in foreign languages and more than 5,000 in Chinese，mainly on geology，geography，paleontology，archeology and mineralogy．Its collection of maps is unique and there are also over 200 technical journals．The survey issues various valuable publications including two journals，one on geology and the other on soil conditions．The Library receives a grant from the China Foundation for the purchase of books．

The Library of the National University，lacking of adequate building，is now temporarily housed in the Chinese residential quarters．Nevertheless the collections of Chinese and western books number altogether 200,000，but unfortunately they are not cataloged．This Library dates back to the Manchu Dynasty．It is maintaining a binding department of its own，which operates very well and cheaply．Native material is used and the average cost is less than 30￠per book．

The National Normal University Library has been greatly improved since the return of its librarian，Mr．Ho Erh Chang．

The Library of the Roman Catholic University，in charge of a German librarian，Dr．Shierlitz，is not large but new and active．It is temporarily housed in an administrative building．The librarian has adopted the Dewey Classification and personally cataloged all western books，Chinese books being handled by his assistants．I was introduced to the chancellor，an American，a very cordial and energetic man of middle age，who was much interested in library training for China and suggested cooperation between libraries，including an exchange of duplicate books．As a matter of fact，libraries in Peiping have already begun some cooperative work．They have published an union catalog in three large volumes and have introduced an interlibrary loan system．

The National Library of Peiping has even gone a step further．It has not only secured the cooperation of other libraries in the country but also of foreign libraries．By special arrangement with the Columbia University Library in New York，two members of the staff have been sent over for further training．An exchange of librarians has been arranged with the Prussian State Library；for the present year，Mr．Walter Simson，of the latter library，exchanged with Mr．Yen Wen-yu．It is hoped that this plan may be adopted by other European countries．Eighteen of our graduates are at work in Peiping at different libraries and I was given an opportunity to address them and to enlist their help in making our work a success．In response they offered us a scholarship，to be called the Wood Scholarship in honor of Miss Mary Elizabeth Wood．

I next visited Tientsin，where I saw three libraries．The Nankai University Library has a fine building with a steel stack，given by a Chinese scholar．The department of economics has developed a workable collection on this and allied subjects．

The Library of the College of Education for Women，though inadequately accommodated，is well maintained．Every space has been utilized to the best advantage and the books are well used both by students and staff．

The Peiping University Library is under-staffed．The library building is very dark and unattractive，which is not conductive to good results．

My next stop is Tsinan，the capital of Shantung．This is another hopeful spot．It is fortunate that this province has at the head of its government an earnest，honest and hard-working military man．Han Fu-chi，who is trying to introduce efficient and decent government and is making numerous reforms．Shantung is not a rich province but because of the General's attitude toward education，it has maintained a university in addition to its school system．Its interest in libraries is well known．The Shantung Provincial Library has most valuable collections，including a complete manuscript of the Buddhist scriptures．Recently the librarian，Mr．Wang Hisen-Tong，secured from the Mai-yen Kuo Library a collection of twenty kinds of rare books which are real treasures．He has also paid much attention to the collection of old bronzes，tablets and rubbings and he has a museum in the Library where archeological collections are exhibited．About a month before my visit to his Library，he had obtained another collection of fourteen kinds of bronzes and earthen-ware which had been excavated from a place not very far from the city．These were thought to have belonged to the Chow Dynasty before the time of Christ．Mr．Wang has planned a new building for his Library and has already in hand＄50,000．When he has raised another equal sum，the provincial government will give him a third amount，making＄150,000 altogether．This Library has a beautiful location in a park on the shore of the famous Tai Ping Lake．Library work in this province is quite active，especially in the so-called People's Libraries．A third-day conference of the librarians in the province had been held here just before my arrival．

The Augustine Library of Cheeloo University has also received the part of the Hall Found，the interest of which is used for the purchase of the books．The Chinese collection is not under the charge of the librarian but under the Chinese department head．

The Shantung University in Tsintal was the next one that I visited．The dean acted as librarian．I was introduced here to the mayor，Seng Hung Nieh，who was quite different from the usual official type．He told me that he had planned to erect an library for the municipality in the near future．

I then went by boat in Shanghai，where I talked with President Pott of St．John's University about the problem of library training．I then visited the Law Library，which is efficiently run．The atalog is well made，book orders and periodical renewals are attended to systematically and the cards for Chinese books are neatly written．The Shanghai University has now moved into its new building and has grown considerably since my last visit seven years ago．The Library is under-staffed and to make up for this deficiency student helpers are employed．A room has been set aside for the International Relation Club of the University to house books and publications given by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace．

The Kio-tung University Library is one of the oldest libraries in China．Mr．Doo Ding-u，its librarian，is working under great handicaps．

The Academica Sinica National Central Research Institute Library serves as a bureau of exchange for foreign publications．Mr．Kung Ming-chung，its librarian，has a difficult position to hold，as he has to know many foreign languages．Many of his exchanges are public documents from foreign countries，to catalog which requires an accomplished linguist．

The Science Social Library has a new building only three years old，erected in memory of one of its founders．Much floor space in its building seems to have been wasted，but its collections on pure science and its files on rare technical journals are valuable．

The Bank of China also has a library，which is primarily for the use of its staff members，especially for its research department．A rich merchant，Ye Hung Yin has given＄1,000,000 for the erection of a building and has instituted a board of treasure．The Library when built is to be called theHung Yin Library．

Hangchow was my first stop after Shanghai．Much progress in library work has been made here．Historically it is the center of culture because the Wen Lan Kuo，one of the seven world libraries in China financed by the Government，is still regarded as a Library of valuable collections．

The Checkiang Provincial Library has a fine new building which is quite imposing，and with its massive pillars resembles，some of the American libraries by the ceiling is too high and the light coming through the high windows will strain the eyes of readers and of the library workers especially in the catalog room．In the stacks，the sun's rays are admitted through high windows directly to the books，which is not to their advantage．Two charging desks on the same floor，one for books and the other for periodicals，seem unnecessary．The librarian，Mr．Chen Shun-chin is most active and has sent travelling libraries to launches running on the Chien Tong River for the use of their passengers．These libraries are sent also to some public institutions．The Library has undertaken compilation work and also publishes a monthly periodical．

The Hangchow Christian College Library is a new building，completed a year ago last June，on a beautiful site commanding an extensive view．I had only in hurried visit with the librarian，Mr．Pen，after office hours．

In Nanking there are a considerable number of libraries，all good．The present Library of Ginling College for Women is housed in a building where classes are held，not suitable for its use，maintains an open shelf system，which makes administration difficult unless there is adequate supervision．The Library has numerous student helpers who do routine work．I learned that some of these difficulties would be eliminated when the Library moves into its new building，which is almost completed．

The Library of the Military Officers Academy is a fine new building of three stories．It is much needed and many books are borrowed for home use．This Library does some publicity work and assists the readers in many ways．

The National Central University Library has undergone organization since the installation of the new president，Mr．Lo Chia Lun．More books may now be borrowed at one time and kept for longer periods and the Library is kept open hours for longer hours for reading and reference．Dr．John Kwei is the librarian．The Library has already outgrown its staff room and a plan for enlargement has been made and will soon be put into effect．

The University of Nanking Library，under Dr．K．C．Liu，is constantly growing and its work is flourishing．It has an income from the Hall Fund amounting to＄50,000 for the purchase of Chinese books and other books on social science with reference to China．Dr．Liu，with two of his staff members，is offering courses in library science．Mr．R．S．Li，also a trained librarian from America，has charge of Chinese and foreign language books with the Hall Fund for the Research Institute of Chinese Studies．The University has an unique collection of books on Chinese agriculture．Its collection of works on topography ranks second in the whole of China．Mr．Wan Kuo-ting is the librarian of this special Agriculture Research Library，which has issued some notable publications．

The Library of Chinese Studies is solely for the use of Chinese scholars and is not intended for the public．An admission fee is charged for the use of books．Books printed in the Sung，Yuan and Ming Dynasties，as many as manuscripts and other rare works，are to be found here．The librarian，Mr．Liu Yih Mou，is a Chinese scholar．He and his assistants are now compiling a catalog of reprints with analytical annotation which will be most useful when completed．The annual reports published by this Library contain many articles of value．

The National Central Library has been newly established under the auspices of the Military of Education．It is hoped that it will become a reference library for the new capital，as the National Library of Peiping is for the old．Its librarian，Mr．Chiang Foo-chung，has made a special study of the continental library system，spending two years in Germany．He has contacted with the commercial press of Shanghai to have a certain number of copies of the four departmental collections reprinted，hoping by exchange of this monumental work with foreign libraries that his own library will become national in fact as well as in name．

The Central Political Science College Library，well administered by its librarian，Mr．Hung Yu-fung，has a notable collection of works on political science and is especially rich in material regarding Sun Yat-sensim．

The Ministry of the Interior maintains a library of some note．The collection of books on topography is the third largest in the country．The Chinese copyright law requires that two copies of Chinese publications should be submitted to this Ministry and that of Education，but unfortunately，this library is inadequately housed．The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has another good government library．Search for material in answer to request is made carefully and often occupies many days．

From my casual observation on this tour of inspection，I am pleased to find that China has made great progress in library work in the last five years despite the crisis through which the country is passing．Practically every institution of high learning has a library with a collection of books of some note．Learned societies have not only libraries but separate attractive buildings to house them and their collections，as a rule is valuable．Scholars and educators take great pride in the libraries belonging to their respective provinces．Men of wealth have found that good use can be made of their money by founding libraries．The government，as indicated above，is establishing libraries for its various departments and laws have been passed to reward those who establish libraries with private means．Library periodicals issued by inpidual libraries，in addition to The Library Science Quarterly published by the National Association，have sprung up like mushrooms．These are hopeful signs but there are other forces preventing library growth，which I will indicate briefly as follows：

College authorities often interfere with the administration of their libraries and these are not infrequently force to employ staff members whose work in other department is unsatisfactory．There is often pressure to employ incapable relatives or friends of faculty members．The library is sometimes placed in a department under a dean who is unfamiliar with library work and the library suffers in consequence．

There is often lack of appreciation of library services on the part of the teaching staff and too much routine work is required before books can be cataloged and placed on the shelves．

Professors，especially in the Chinese Department，fail to observe library rules and the librarian is unable to enforce them．

All orders for books，supplies and equipment for the library must go through the business department of the college and frequently articles so offered are not fitted for use．

There is lack of coordination between the teaching staff and the library staff in their relations with the student body．

In many college libraries，no appropriation is made for the purchase of books for the librarian's reference shelf．

There are too many untrained assistants and in many case no effort is made to instruct them in fundamentals．

Plans are needed for mutual aid in interlibrary loans，etc．，as already in operation in Peiping and Nanking．

Local library clubs are needed for the exchange ideas with a view to the improvement of the profession．

More training is needed for work with special collections．Student who has made a special study of geology，social science，law or medicine should be encouraged to take a course in library technic，after which they will be fitted for this kind of special service．

There is special need for training men and women for service in popular libraries that have been widely established throughout the country．

Bookkeeping should be given as a required course for students in training．

In large libraries，such as the National Library of Peiping，specialization has become necessary．Students in the future should have an advanced course in some special topics as cataloging，classification，reference work or public document．For general libraries，of course，the training should be more general．

（见1934年《The Library Journal》第59卷第11期）

本书搜集了沈祖荣先生于1916—1944年发表的中英文文章共46篇，反映了新中国成立以前国内图书馆的发展概况、国内图书馆教育工作的思想概况、图书馆学教育和档案管理学教育的开创与推进的史实，也介绍了一些欧美和日本图书馆的概况，是一本关于图书馆学教育历史的文献。