Public libraries in China

China is a country with a long-standing library tradition and a rich cultural heritage, encompassing a diverse range of library types and archives, from dynastic archives to academic learning halls, from special collection libraries to modern digital information centers. However, this research examines only the historical development of public libraries from the 19th century to the present. This research examines and presents the institutional, technical, and social development of public libraries, from the first public library initiatives during the Qing Dynasty to the modernization period, from the experiences of the Nationalist Government period to the socialist restructuring and institutionalization process that followed the proclamation of the People's Republic of China, from the institutional damage caused by the Cultural Revolution to the modernization steps of the Great Reform and Restructuring Period, and the structural transformations brought about by the Digitalization Age. Particularly since the 2000s, with the implementation of visions such as the establishment of digital service infrastructures in line with the government's successive Five-Year Development Plans and the strengthening of public services focusing on equality in information, public libraries have gone beyond simply providing information access and have become carriers of cultural continuity, instruments of social inclusion, and platforms for international interaction. The selection of the Beijing Public Library as "Public Library of the Year" by IFLA in 2024 further supports the alignment of the policies and practices of Chinese public libraries with global standards and demonstrates their international recognition. It also confirms the study's assumption that "the modernization efforts, reforms, policies, development plans, and the restructuring of public libraries in line with digitalization policies in China have increased the recognition and effectiveness of these institutions not only at the national but also at the international level."