People's Republic of China Public Library Law
Release Time：2018-05-11 Return
Source: Chinese People's Congress Website, November 4, 2017, 19:55:18
table of Contents
Chapter V Legal Liability
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Chapter 1 General
Article 1 This Law is formulated in order to promote the development of public libraries, give full play to the functions of public libraries, protect citizens’ basic cultural rights and interests, improve the quality of citizens’ scientific culture and the level of social civilization, pass on human civilization, and strengthen cultural self-confidence.
Article 2 Public libraries referred to in this Law refer to public cultural facilities that are open to the general public free of charge, collect, organize, and preserve documentary information and provide information on inquiries, lending and related services, and carry out social education.
The document information stipulated in the preceding paragraph includes books, magazines, audio-visual products, miniature products, and digital resources.
Article 3 The public library is an important part of the socialist public cultural service system. It should be an important task to promote, guide, and serve the entire population.
Public libraries should adhere to the forward direction of socialist advanced culture, persist in taking the people as the center, insist on taking the core values of socialism as the guide, inherit and develop the fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit the revolutionary culture, and develop advanced socialist culture.
Article 4 The people's government at or above the county level shall incorporate public library undertakings into its national economic and social development plans, incorporate public library construction into urban and rural planning and overall land use planning, and increase investment in public libraries set up by the government. The required funds will be included in the budget of the government at the same level and be paid in full and on time.
The state encourages citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to raise funds by themselves to set up public libraries. The people's government at or above the county level shall actively mobilize social forces to participate in the construction of public libraries, and provide policy support in accordance with the relevant regulations of the state.
Article 5 The competent cultural department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of public libraries throughout the country. Other relevant departments of the State Council are responsible for the work related to the management of public libraries within the scope of their respective duties.
The competent cultural departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the management of public libraries within their respective administrative areas. Other relevant departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the work relating to the management of public libraries within their respective administrative areas within the scope of their respective duties.
Article 6 The State encourages citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to donate to public libraries in accordance with the law, and gives tax concessions according to law.
Overseas natural persons, legal persons and other organizations may participate in the construction of domestic public libraries through donations in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 7 The state supports the development of public library undertakings in old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and poverty-stricken areas.
Article 8 The State encourages and supports the role of science and technology in the construction, management, and service of public libraries, and promotes the use of modern information technology and communication technologies to improve the service efficiency of public libraries.
Article 9 The State encourages and supports international exchanges and cooperation in the field of public libraries.
Article 10 Public libraries shall abide by the provisions of laws and administrative regulations concerning the protection of intellectual property rights, and protect and use the documents and information according to law.
Where the library collection document information belongs to cultural relics, archives or state secrets, the public library shall abide by the provisions of laws and administrative regulations concerning the protection of cultural relics, the management of archives or the preservation of state secrets.
Article 11 The public library industry organizations shall formulate industry norms in accordance with the law, strengthen self-discipline in the industry, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the members, and guide and urge members to improve the quality of their services.
Article 12 Organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the development of public library undertakings shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
Chapter II Establishment
Article 13 The State shall establish a convenient and practical public library service network covering urban and rural areas. The public library service network construction adheres to government-led and encourages social participation.
The local people's government at or above the county level shall determine the number, size, structure, and distribution of public libraries according to local conditions, population size, population distribution, environment, and traffic conditions, and strengthen fixed buildings and mobile service facilities and self-service. Facilities construction.
Article 14 People's governments at or above the county level shall establish public libraries.
Local people's governments should make full use of the comprehensive service facilities of townships (sub-districts) and villages (communities) to set up library rooms to serve urban and rural residents.
Article 15 The establishment of a public library shall meet the following conditions:
(a) Constitution;
(b) Fixed site;
(c) The area of the building, reading seats, documentation, information, facilities and equipment that are compatible with its functions;
(4) The staff who adapt to the functions, collections, etc.;
(5) The necessary funds for running the library and the source of stable operating funds;
(6) Safety facilities, systems and emergency plans.
Article 16 The public library constitution shall include such matters as the name, address, purpose of the library, scope of business, management system, relevant rules, termination procedures, and disposal plans for the remaining assets.
Article 17 The establishment, alteration, and termination of a public library shall be subject to registration procedures in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.
Article 18 The competent cultural departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall timely publish on their websites the names, address, contact information, general information of library documents, and main service contents and methods of public libraries within their respective administrative areas.
Article 19 The director of a public library established by the government shall have the corresponding cultural level, professional knowledge, and organizational management capabilities.
Public libraries should be equipped with appropriate staff according to factors such as their functions, collection size, area of buildings, service scope, and service population. The staff of a public library shall have appropriate professional knowledge and skills, among which professional and technical personnel may assess professional titles in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.
Article 20 A public library may name special collections of documents or special events with the name and name of the donor.
Public libraries established by citizens, legal persons, and other organizations may name public libraries, public library buildings, or other facilities in the names and names of donors.
The names of donors and names should be in compliance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, in line with national interests and public interests, and follow public order and good customs.
Article 21 When a public library terminates, it shall handle its remaining property in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 22 The State establishes a national library, which mainly undertakes the strategic preservation of national documentation and information, the compilation of national bibliographies and joint catalogues, services for national legislation and decision-making, organization of national ancient book protection, development of library development research and international exchange, and other books The hall provides business guidance and technical support functions. The National Library also has the functions of the public library provided for in this Law.
Chapter 3 Operation
Article 23 The State promotes the establishment of a sound corporate governance structure for public libraries and the participation of representatives from relevant sectors, professionals, and the general public in management.
Article Twenty-four Public libraries shall, in accordance with the purpose of the library and the needs of the clients, collect extensively the literature information; the public libraries established by the government shall also systematically collect local literature information, preserve and transmit the local culture.
The collection of documentary information shall comply with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 25 Public libraries may collect documentary information through legal means such as procurement, acceptance of deposit or donation.
Article 26 A publishing unit shall deposit official publications to the National Library and the local public libraries at the provincial level in accordance with relevant state regulations.
Article 27 Public libraries shall organize the collection of literature information in accordance with the standards and norms published by the State, establish a catalogue of collections of documentary information, and disclose them to the public through their websites or other means according to law.
Article 28 A public library shall properly preserve the collection of library documentation and shall not dispose of it arbitrarily; if it is necessary to dispose of it, it shall abide by the provisions of the State Council department in charge of cultural information processing.
Public libraries should be equipped with fire prevention, anti-theft and other facilities, and take special protection measures for ancient books and other valuable and vulnerable documents in accordance with relevant state regulations and standards to ensure safety.
Article 29 Public libraries shall regularly check and maintain their facilities and equipment to ensure normal operation.
The facilities and equipment venues of public libraries must not be used for business activities that are not related to their services.
Article 30 Public libraries shall strengthen inter-library exchanges and cooperation. The state supports public libraries to conduct joint procurement, joint cataloging, and joint services to achieve the co-construction and sharing of documentary information and to promote the effective use of documentary information.
Article 31 The people's government at the county level shall, according to local conditions, establish a county-level public library as the main hall, a township (street) comprehensive cultural station, and a village (community) library room in accordance with local conditions. Branch library system, improve the digital, network service system and distribution system, realize the borrowing and repatriation, and promote the public library service to urban and rural grassroots extension. The general hall should strengthen the business guidance for the branches and grassroots service points.
Article 32 Where the documentation information of a public library library belongs to archives or cultural relics, the public library may exchange duplicates, copies or catalogues with archives, museums, memorial halls, etc., jointly organize exhibitions, and jointly edit and publish relevant historical materials. Conduct historical research.
Chapter IV Service
Article 33 Public libraries shall provide services to the public in accordance with the requirements of equality, openness, and sharing.
Public libraries should provide the public with the following services free of charge:
(1) Searching and borrowing of literature information;
(2) The open space for public space facilities such as reading rooms and study rooms;
(3) Public welfare lectures, reading promotion, training, exhibitions;
(4) Other free service items prescribed by the State.
Article 34 The public library established by the government shall set up a reading area for children and young people, provide relevant professionals according to the characteristics of children and adolescents, carry out reading instruction and social education activities for young children, and provide support for extracurricular activities for the school. . A juvenile and children’s library can be set up separately in eligible regions.
The public libraries set up by the government should take into consideration the characteristics of the elderly and the disabled and other groups, actively create conditions, provide documentary information that suits their needs, and provide facilities, services, and services that are barrier-free.
Article 35 Public libraries established by the government shall, in accordance with their own conditions, formulate laws, regulations, and policies for state organs, conduct research on relevant issues, and provide documentary information and related consulting services.
Article 36 Public libraries shall promote reading for all citizens through activities such as reading instruction, reading exchanges, speech reading, and book exchange and sharing.
Article 37 When public libraries provide documentary information to the public, they shall abide by the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, and may not provide minors with document information with inappropriate content.
Public libraries must not engage in or allow other organizations or individuals to engage in activities that endanger national security, harm social public interests, and other violations of laws and regulations in the museum.
Article 38 Public libraries shall announce to the public the service content, opening hours, and lending rules of the Library through its website or other means; for closure of the library or change of opening hours, it shall be announced in advance unless it encounters force majeure.
Public libraries should be open on public holidays. There should be opening hours on national holidays.
Article 39 Public libraries established by the government shall provide the public with convenient services through mobile service facilities and self-service facilities.
Article 40 The State shall establish a public library digital service network with unified and interconnected standards, support the research of digital reading product development and digital resource preservation technologies, and promote public libraries to use digital and network technologies to provide convenient services to the public.
The public libraries set up by the government should strengthen the construction of digital resources, provide corresponding facilities and equipment, establish a combination of online and offline information and information sharing platforms, and provide quality services to the public.
Article 41 A public library established by the government shall strengthen the protection of ancient books in the museum, and use digitalization, photocopying, or microfilming techniques to promote the collation, publication, research, and utilization of ancient books according to their own conditions, and through roving exhibitions, public welfare lectures, and rare books. Re-creation, creative product development and other methods, to strengthen the ancient propaganda, inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture.
Article 42 Public libraries shall improve service conditions, improve service levels, regularly announce service development, listen to readers' opinions, establish complaint channels, improve feedback mechanisms, and accept social supervision.
Article 43 Public libraries shall properly protect readers' personal information, borrowing information, and other information that may involve readers' privacy, and may not sell or otherwise illegally provide it to others.
Article 44 Readers shall abide by the relevant provisions of the public library, conscientiously safeguard the order of public libraries, take good care of the public library's literature information, facilities and equipment, and make legitimate use of documentary information. Borrowing documents and information shall be returned within the prescribed time limit.
The public library staff has the right to discourage or stop the destruction of public library documentation, facilities, or disruption of public library order. If discouraged or stopped, public libraries can stop providing services.
Article 45 The State adopts measures such as government procurement of services to give support to citizens, legal persons and other public libraries established by other organizations to provide services.
Article 46 The State encourages citizens to participate in volunteer services in public libraries. The competent cultural department of the people's government at or above the county level shall give necessary guidance and support for volunteer services in public libraries.
Article 47 The competent cultural department of the State Council and the competent cultural department of the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall formulate public library service standards to assess the quality and level of service of public libraries. The assessment should involve the participation of the public. The results of the assessment shall be announced to the public and used as a basis for granting subsidies or rewards to public libraries.
Article 48 The State supports public libraries in strengthening exchanges and cooperation with school libraries, research institute libraries, and other types of libraries, and conducting joint services.
The state supports school libraries, research institute libraries, and other types of libraries to be open to the public.
Chapter V Legal Liability
Article 49 Public libraries engage in or allow other organizations and individuals to
table of Contents
Chapter 1 General
Chapter II Establishment
Chapter 3 Operation
Chapter IV ServiceChapter V Legal Liability
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Chapter 1 General
Article 1 This Law is formulated in order to promote the development of public libraries, give full play to the functions of public libraries, protect citizens’ basic cultural rights and interests, improve the quality of citizens’ scientific culture and the level of social civilization, pass on human civilization, and strengthen cultural self-confidence.
Article 2 Public libraries referred to in this Law refer to public cultural facilities that are open to the general public free of charge, collect, organize, and preserve documentary information and provide information on inquiries, lending and related services, and carry out social education.
The document information stipulated in the preceding paragraph includes books, magazines, audio-visual products, miniature products, and digital resources.
Article 3 The public library is an important part of the socialist public cultural service system. It should be an important task to promote, guide, and serve the entire population.
Public libraries should adhere to the forward direction of socialist advanced culture, persist in taking the people as the center, insist on taking the core values of socialism as the guide, inherit and develop the fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit the revolutionary culture, and develop advanced socialist culture.
Article 4 The people's government at or above the county level shall incorporate public library undertakings into its national economic and social development plans, incorporate public library construction into urban and rural planning and overall land use planning, and increase investment in public libraries set up by the government. The required funds will be included in the budget of the government at the same level and be paid in full and on time.
The state encourages citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to raise funds by themselves to set up public libraries. The people's government at or above the county level shall actively mobilize social forces to participate in the construction of public libraries, and provide policy support in accordance with the relevant regulations of the state.
Article 5 The competent cultural department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of public libraries throughout the country. Other relevant departments of the State Council are responsible for the work related to the management of public libraries within the scope of their respective duties.
The competent cultural departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the management of public libraries within their respective administrative areas. Other relevant departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the work relating to the management of public libraries within their respective administrative areas within the scope of their respective duties.
Article 6 The State encourages citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to donate to public libraries in accordance with the law, and gives tax concessions according to law.
Overseas natural persons, legal persons and other organizations may participate in the construction of domestic public libraries through donations in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 7 The state supports the development of public library undertakings in old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and poverty-stricken areas.
Article 8 The State encourages and supports the role of science and technology in the construction, management, and service of public libraries, and promotes the use of modern information technology and communication technologies to improve the service efficiency of public libraries.
Article 9 The State encourages and supports international exchanges and cooperation in the field of public libraries.
Article 10 Public libraries shall abide by the provisions of laws and administrative regulations concerning the protection of intellectual property rights, and protect and use the documents and information according to law.
Where the library collection document information belongs to cultural relics, archives or state secrets, the public library shall abide by the provisions of laws and administrative regulations concerning the protection of cultural relics, the management of archives or the preservation of state secrets.
Article 11 The public library industry organizations shall formulate industry norms in accordance with the law, strengthen self-discipline in the industry, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the members, and guide and urge members to improve the quality of their services.
Article 12 Organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the development of public library undertakings shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
Chapter II Establishment
Article 13 The State shall establish a convenient and practical public library service network covering urban and rural areas. The public library service network construction adheres to government-led and encourages social participation.
The local people's government at or above the county level shall determine the number, size, structure, and distribution of public libraries according to local conditions, population size, population distribution, environment, and traffic conditions, and strengthen fixed buildings and mobile service facilities and self-service. Facilities construction.
Article 14 People's governments at or above the county level shall establish public libraries.
Local people's governments should make full use of the comprehensive service facilities of townships (sub-districts) and villages (communities) to set up library rooms to serve urban and rural residents.
Article 15 The establishment of a public library shall meet the following conditions:
(a) Constitution;
(b) Fixed site;
(c) The area of the building, reading seats, documentation, information, facilities and equipment that are compatible with its functions;
(4) The staff who adapt to the functions, collections, etc.;
(5) The necessary funds for running the library and the source of stable operating funds;
(6) Safety facilities, systems and emergency plans.
Article 16 The public library constitution shall include such matters as the name, address, purpose of the library, scope of business, management system, relevant rules, termination procedures, and disposal plans for the remaining assets.
Article 17 The establishment, alteration, and termination of a public library shall be subject to registration procedures in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.
Article 18 The competent cultural departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall timely publish on their websites the names, address, contact information, general information of library documents, and main service contents and methods of public libraries within their respective administrative areas.
Article 19 The director of a public library established by the government shall have the corresponding cultural level, professional knowledge, and organizational management capabilities.
Public libraries should be equipped with appropriate staff according to factors such as their functions, collection size, area of buildings, service scope, and service population. The staff of a public library shall have appropriate professional knowledge and skills, among which professional and technical personnel may assess professional titles in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.
Article 20 A public library may name special collections of documents or special events with the name and name of the donor.
Public libraries established by citizens, legal persons, and other organizations may name public libraries, public library buildings, or other facilities in the names and names of donors.
The names of donors and names should be in compliance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, in line with national interests and public interests, and follow public order and good customs.
Article 21 When a public library terminates, it shall handle its remaining property in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 22 The State establishes a national library, which mainly undertakes the strategic preservation of national documentation and information, the compilation of national bibliographies and joint catalogues, services for national legislation and decision-making, organization of national ancient book protection, development of library development research and international exchange, and other books The hall provides business guidance and technical support functions. The National Library also has the functions of the public library provided for in this Law.
Chapter 3 Operation
Article 23 The State promotes the establishment of a sound corporate governance structure for public libraries and the participation of representatives from relevant sectors, professionals, and the general public in management.
Article Twenty-four Public libraries shall, in accordance with the purpose of the library and the needs of the clients, collect extensively the literature information; the public libraries established by the government shall also systematically collect local literature information, preserve and transmit the local culture.
The collection of documentary information shall comply with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 25 Public libraries may collect documentary information through legal means such as procurement, acceptance of deposit or donation.
Article 26 A publishing unit shall deposit official publications to the National Library and the local public libraries at the provincial level in accordance with relevant state regulations.
Article 27 Public libraries shall organize the collection of literature information in accordance with the standards and norms published by the State, establish a catalogue of collections of documentary information, and disclose them to the public through their websites or other means according to law.
Article 28 A public library shall properly preserve the collection of library documentation and shall not dispose of it arbitrarily; if it is necessary to dispose of it, it shall abide by the provisions of the State Council department in charge of cultural information processing.
Public libraries should be equipped with fire prevention, anti-theft and other facilities, and take special protection measures for ancient books and other valuable and vulnerable documents in accordance with relevant state regulations and standards to ensure safety.
Article 29 Public libraries shall regularly check and maintain their facilities and equipment to ensure normal operation.
The facilities and equipment venues of public libraries must not be used for business activities that are not related to their services.
Article 30 Public libraries shall strengthen inter-library exchanges and cooperation. The state supports public libraries to conduct joint procurement, joint cataloging, and joint services to achieve the co-construction and sharing of documentary information and to promote the effective use of documentary information.
Article 31 The people's government at the county level shall, according to local conditions, establish a county-level public library as the main hall, a township (street) comprehensive cultural station, and a village (community) library room in accordance with local conditions. Branch library system, improve the digital, network service system and distribution system, realize the borrowing and repatriation, and promote the public library service to urban and rural grassroots extension. The general hall should strengthen the business guidance for the branches and grassroots service points.
Article 32 Where the documentation information of a public library library belongs to archives or cultural relics, the public library may exchange duplicates, copies or catalogues with archives, museums, memorial halls, etc., jointly organize exhibitions, and jointly edit and publish relevant historical materials. Conduct historical research.
Chapter IV Service
Article 33 Public libraries shall provide services to the public in accordance with the requirements of equality, openness, and sharing.
Public libraries should provide the public with the following services free of charge:
(1) Searching and borrowing of literature information;
(2) The open space for public space facilities such as reading rooms and study rooms;
(3) Public welfare lectures, reading promotion, training, exhibitions;
(4) Other free service items prescribed by the State.
Article 34 The public library established by the government shall set up a reading area for children and young people, provide relevant professionals according to the characteristics of children and adolescents, carry out reading instruction and social education activities for young children, and provide support for extracurricular activities for the school. . A juvenile and children’s library can be set up separately in eligible regions.
The public libraries set up by the government should take into consideration the characteristics of the elderly and the disabled and other groups, actively create conditions, provide documentary information that suits their needs, and provide facilities, services, and services that are barrier-free.
Article 35 Public libraries established by the government shall, in accordance with their own conditions, formulate laws, regulations, and policies for state organs, conduct research on relevant issues, and provide documentary information and related consulting services.
Article 36 Public libraries shall promote reading for all citizens through activities such as reading instruction, reading exchanges, speech reading, and book exchange and sharing.
Article 37 When public libraries provide documentary information to the public, they shall abide by the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, and may not provide minors with document information with inappropriate content.
Public libraries must not engage in or allow other organizations or individuals to engage in activities that endanger national security, harm social public interests, and other violations of laws and regulations in the museum.
Article 38 Public libraries shall announce to the public the service content, opening hours, and lending rules of the Library through its website or other means; for closure of the library or change of opening hours, it shall be announced in advance unless it encounters force majeure.
Public libraries should be open on public holidays. There should be opening hours on national holidays.
Article 39 Public libraries established by the government shall provide the public with convenient services through mobile service facilities and self-service facilities.
Article 40 The State shall establish a public library digital service network with unified and interconnected standards, support the research of digital reading product development and digital resource preservation technologies, and promote public libraries to use digital and network technologies to provide convenient services to the public.
The public libraries set up by the government should strengthen the construction of digital resources, provide corresponding facilities and equipment, establish a combination of online and offline information and information sharing platforms, and provide quality services to the public.
Article 41 A public library established by the government shall strengthen the protection of ancient books in the museum, and use digitalization, photocopying, or microfilming techniques to promote the collation, publication, research, and utilization of ancient books according to their own conditions, and through roving exhibitions, public welfare lectures, and rare books. Re-creation, creative product development and other methods, to strengthen the ancient propaganda, inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture.
Article 42 Public libraries shall improve service conditions, improve service levels, regularly announce service development, listen to readers' opinions, establish complaint channels, improve feedback mechanisms, and accept social supervision.
Article 43 Public libraries shall properly protect readers' personal information, borrowing information, and other information that may involve readers' privacy, and may not sell or otherwise illegally provide it to others.
Article 44 Readers shall abide by the relevant provisions of the public library, conscientiously safeguard the order of public libraries, take good care of the public library's literature information, facilities and equipment, and make legitimate use of documentary information. Borrowing documents and information shall be returned within the prescribed time limit.
The public library staff has the right to discourage or stop the destruction of public library documentation, facilities, or disruption of public library order. If discouraged or stopped, public libraries can stop providing services.
Article 45 The State adopts measures such as government procurement of services to give support to citizens, legal persons and other public libraries established by other organizations to provide services.
Article 46 The State encourages citizens to participate in volunteer services in public libraries. The competent cultural department of the people's government at or above the county level shall give necessary guidance and support for volunteer services in public libraries.
Article 47 The competent cultural department of the State Council and the competent cultural department of the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall formulate public library service standards to assess the quality and level of service of public libraries. The assessment should involve the participation of the public. The results of the assessment shall be announced to the public and used as a basis for granting subsidies or rewards to public libraries.
Article 48 The State supports public libraries in strengthening exchanges and cooperation with school libraries, research institute libraries, and other types of libraries, and conducting joint services.
The state supports school libraries, research institute libraries, and other types of libraries to be open to the public.
Chapter V Legal Liability
Article 49 Public libraries engage in or allow other organizations and individuals to