Host:Peking University Library
Co-host:CALIS Administrative Center
Peking University Library
The year 1902 saw the founding of the Book Depository of The Imperial University of Peking, one of the earliest modern libraries of the nation. After the Revolution of 1911, the Depository was renamed Peking University Library. Now it has become a comprehensive, open-type research library with ample resources and a high level of modernized management.
The Library collects a vast variety of books, covering diverse subjects, with a gathering of numerous treasures and rare items. By the year 2011, the Library （including main library and branch libraries） holds under its roof a collection of more than 8 million items of books, among which the 1.5 million items of Chinese ancient materials attract the most attention from the world. And among these classical treasures, the 200 thousand rare books covering the period between the 5th and the 18th centuries remain the cultural gems the Chinese nation is proud of. Besides, as its valuable feather in the eyes of connoisseurs, the Library distinguishes itself from its Chinese counterparts in good editions of foreign books, bronze and stone rubbings, and pre-1949 publications. Also to the satisfaction of readers is the massive acquisition of digital resources from home and abroad, amounting to two million kinds, including databases, electronic journals, electronic books, and theses and dissertations.
The main building of Peking University Library has undergone phases of change. The west building built in 1975 and the east building built in 1998 combine to make the unitary edifice people see now. In 2005 the Library took a new look after the extensive renovation of its west building, its entire area totaling 53,000㎡, with over 4,000 seats for readers. The Changping Depository Library was set up in 2009, with about 5,000 ㎡ and more than 800 thousand items.
The Library has taken as its creed ‘To transmit knowledge and pursue harmonious development through her comprehensive collections and innovative services.’ The kinds of services it provides include circulation, digital library portal, resources retrieval, information service and research reference, interlibrary loan and document delivery, user training, academic reserves, and multimedia service.
Currently, the Library also hosts such important national organizations as following:
- The Administrative Center and National Information Center in Science, Social Science and Humanities of CALIS (China Academic Library and Information System),
- The Administrative Center and National Information Center of CASHL (China Academic Social Sciences and Humanities Library)
- The Secretariat of DRAA (Digital Resource Acquisition Alliance of Chinese Academic Libraries)
- The Secretariat of Steering Committee for Academic Libraries of China (under the Ministry of Education)
- The Secretariat of Academic Library Society, China Society for Library Science,
- The Editorial office of Journal of Academic Libraries.
The Library thus occupies an important pivotal position for the sharing of China’s higher education literature and resources, making a due contribution to the general development of China’s university libraries.
The homepage of Peking University Library：http://eng.lib.pku.edu.cn/
CALIS Introduction
China Academic Library and Information System (CALIS), approved by the State Council under the Ministry of Education, is one of the public service systems of the”211 Project” for higher education in China. Under the purpose of “resource sharing”, the open-ended Chinese academic digital library (named eduChina) framework was built on an internationally progressive level based on digital academic information resources. The construction of this framework was essential to support the general construction goal of the “211 Project”, stimulate the informationization of high education, progress the modernization of Chinese academic libraries, and become a vital component of the state’s information infrastructure.
After more than ten years of leadership and promotion of CALIS, the information resource supply among academic libraries has changed from a single-library model into a multiple-library model. An effective CALIS service system with “centralized resources, cooperative labor, balanced duty, joint use and collection”, was formed, the resource sharing mechanism was established, abundant experience has been accumulated, and a large number of digital library construction and service personnel have been trained. The scale of the CALIS project and its participants are one of the largest in China and the world. So far, CALIS has over 1600 member libraries.
Through cooperative purchasing and self-built electronic resources, CALIS has formed an academic literature resources system with e-books, e-journals, and dissertations covering all key subjects and disciplines. The total number of resource records is currently over 70 million. As one of the biggest academic literature resource systems in China, CALIS has established a comprehensive academic library of electronic and print resources, and it is now ready to extend resource sharing among academic libraries.
Through independent research and cooperative development, CALIS has also established a series of advanced, open digital library support tools and application systems. These systems are composed of advanced Chinese academic digital libraries combined with the function of digital resources development, management, storage, access, and service.
At present, CALIS services include, but are not limited to, public access and resource navigation, document delivery and literature acquisition, reference assistance and subject consultation, cooperative cataloging and bibliographic distribution, resource development and coordinative purchasing, software sharing and technical support, business training and qualification authentication.
The homepage of CALIS is：www.calis.edu.cn