The round-the-clock self-service reading room next to Pingtan Library's front gate is expected to be put into use in the middle of January 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Pingtan in Fujian province is building a round-the-clock self-service reading room next to Pingtan Library's front gate.

Covering an area of about 100 square meters，the reading room shall be open 24 hours a day and will house a total of 3,000 to 5,000 books in different categories including children's fiction, literature and social science.

Staff fill the bookshelves of the round-the-clock self-service reading room in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The reading room has a more casual and comfortable atmosphere than a traditional library, with a sofa in the shape of a swing and other decorations in the recreational area help to create a cultural and artistic atmosphere.

Ding Linxin, chief librarian of Pingtan Library, stated that the round-the-clock self-service reading room will allow the library to be used anytime, enabling readers to take full advantage of the book resources in the library.

He also added that readers have to apply for a new membership card either at the service counter on the first floor of Pingtan Library or through the self-help machines prior to entering the newly-built reading room.

The reading room's outer decoration work has now been finished and the room is expected to be put into use in the middle of January.