Sarbulak getting its first library

The town of Sarbulak, in Huocheng county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is looking forward to its new library which is expected to open at the end of January, making it the first town in the county to have its own library.

The town spent more than 2 million yuan [$320,000] on the library, which covers around 480 square meters and will have more than 60,000 books and 7,000 electronic books. It will also contain books in three languages -- Chinese, Kazakh and Uygur – and mainly in three categories -- the social sciences, literature and the arts, and culture and education – with an especially large number of books for young people.

New library in the town of Sarbulak. [Photo/ hcccp.gov.cn]

The town explained that it built the library with the intention of providing a good study environment for the public and that it wants to broaden their horizons through reading. It said it is also looking to see how people from different ethnic groups may communicate with each other in the library to increase understanding.

Librarian sorting books at Sarbulak’s new library. [Photo/ hcccp.gov.cn]

By Li Xiaoxu and edited by Roger Bradshaw