Northeast China’s Liaoning Province has unveiled a groundbreaking digital initiative in public cultural services with the launch of ‘Wanjuanfudi’ (meaning ‘Abundant Books’), marking China’s first province-level coordinated online library lending platform. This innovative system represents a significant advancement in making literary resources more accessible to the public through digital integration.
The platform debuted with an impressive collection of 500,000 volumes pooled from the Liaoning Provincial Library and 14 municipal libraries across the province. The service operates through a user-friendly mobile application that allows residents to browse, select, and order books for home delivery via courier services. Each registered user receives one complimentary shipping service per quarter, significantly reducing barriers to access.
Developed through a collaboration between the Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Provincial Public Cultural Service Center, ‘Wanjuanfudi’ directly addresses longstanding challenges in public library services. The platform specifically targets issues such as slow collection updates in community libraries and the difficulties faced by residents in remote areas who previously encountered limited access and high costs associated with obtaining books.
This initiative has been designated as a key cultural benefit project in Liaoning’s 2025 Provincial Government Work Report, highlighting its importance in the region’s public service agenda. Future expansion plans include integrating all 127 public libraries across the province while additionally incorporating resources from university libraries and urban reading spaces. This comprehensive approach aims to create an extensive network for resource sharing and significantly extend the program’s reach and impact throughout the region.