Window of Shanghai
The Window of Shanghai [new window] is a program of the Shanghai Library [new window] which aims to introduce Chinese history and culture to overseas readers. Its goal is to promote Chinese civilization and publicise China’s reform process, by means of donating books to foreign libraries and cultural institutions.
Shanghai Library is the largest public library in China, and one of the ten largest libraries in the world in terms of its collection and floor space. Since the establishment of its new building in 1996, Shanghai Library has been engaged in book exchanges and cooperative agreements with over 150 libraries and 30 research institutes in over 20 countries and regions worldwide.
Initiated in 2003, the Window of Shanghai was Shanghai Library’s first attempt to go beyond book exchanges, and is now an integral part of the Chinese government’s China Book International project [new window] involving the subsidised publication of Chinese books and their donation to libraries abroad.
The signing of the Memorandum of Exchange and Cooperation between Shanghai Library and The State Library of Queensland took place in October 2006 as part of the Queensland Shanghai Days event at Parliament House in Brisbane. The Assistant Director of Shanghai Library Mr. Chen Chao and the State Librarian Mrs. Lea Giles-Peters signed the Memorandum on behalf of each library.
The Memorandum will be in effect until October 2010, during which time the two libraries will carry out cooperation and exchange activities in the fields of library material and expertise exchange, sharing of service resources, staff training, etc. As part of the agreement, Shanghai Library donated 500 copies of books on the subject of Chinese history, literature, economy and culture to the State Library in the first year of the Memorandum and continues to donate 100 copies on an annual basis for the duration of the Memorandum.
In exchange, State Library donated 500 copies of books on the subject of Queensland history, literature, economy and culture to Shanghai Library over the period of the first two years of the Memorandum and 100 copies will be donated on an annual basis for the duration of the Memorandum.
The Memorandum also includes provisions for staff exchanges between the two libraries, in addition to exchange and cooperation projects on library management, bibliography and database compilation, inter-library loans, reference consultation, preservation and conservation of library materials, web-based services and other projects as agreed.
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Last updated: 24th July 2009
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