Apr 23 of this year marked the 28th World Book and Copyright Day. 

Residents search for books in a brick-and-mortar bookstore. [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

Over the years, Beijing E-Town has continuously introduced physical bookstores and created public reading spaces, providing fertile ground for the development of a city of reading.

From three physical bookstores in early 2020 to 20 now, Beijing E-Town has completed ahead of schedule the goal of 0.8 physical bookstores per 10,000 people.

The vigorous development of physical bookstores and public reading spaces is inseparable from the support of Beijing E-Town. 

Residents enjoy themselves in a reading space. [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

In 2022, a total of seven brick-and-mortar bookstores and 44 reading spaces received district-level support, with rewards totaling 2.84 million yuan ($410,381.87), and five bookstores and five reading spaces were upgraded respectively.

In addition, Beijing E-Town has improved its digital library construction. 

The library of Beijing E-Town (the Library of Beijing Electronic Science and Technology Vocational College) has expanded its service radius, bridging the last mile of reading service. 

It has distributed about 5,000 print books to 10 branch libraries and regularly replaced books and periodicals, and opened up more than 30 digital resource databases such as Tongfang Knowledge Network, Zhangyue Select, and Chinese Online. 

"Mobile library" services offered by Neolix and Beijing E-Town [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

Meanwhile, the digital construction of convenient community libraries has also accelerated. For instance, in the Shanghai Salon Community Convenient Library established last year, the newly set up digital reading area is equipped with electronic book reading devices and electronic newspaper and periodical borrowing devices, and provides digital resources such as 3,000 e-books, 30 newspapers, and 500 high-quality journals. 

During "World Book and Copyright Day" in 2022, Beijing E-Town, in collaboration with Neolix, innovatively launched "mobile library" services, using technological power to build a 15-minute reading circle.

Beijing E-Town also organized a series of quarterly highlights and featured activities such as the "Countdown to the Winter Olympics for 30 Days" themed reading event and the Mid-Autumn Festival Reading Club and Weekend Book Clubs.

Last year, Beijing E-Town held more than 250 online and offline reading activities, providing regional residents with rich, colorful and tangible reading experiences.