This Day, That Year

Item from Jan 15, 1982, in China Daily: Miniature benches and children's picture books can distract grown-ups from serious adult business. This sidewalk lending library is on the main street in Jinan, capital of Shandong province.

Library vending machines offering free, 24-hour book loans are becoming more popular in cities across the country.

In Beijing's Chaoyang district, readers can choose from thousands of titles housed in more than 120 large machines distributed across the area, according to library management authorities.