National Digital Library of China: On the Way to the Formation of a Single Cultural and Information Space of the Country

Abstract

The article examines the experience of the National Library of China (Beijing) on implementation of the National Digital Library Project. There is described the state policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on supporting digital library projects and informatization of the library sector, aimed at bridging the digital divide among the population, preservation and promotion of national book heritage, the growth of intellectual potential of the country and increase of its international prestige. The author considers the current state of the National Library of China, the results of its modernization, the projects included in the 13th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the PRC (2016—2020). Special attention is paid to the website of the institution, which presents extensive information on the library life of the country. The role of the National Library of China as the initiator and manager of the National Digital Library Project is shown; the main stages of its implementation are revealed (“Chinese Pilot Digital Library Project”, “China Digital Library Program”, “Digital Library Promotion Project”); the importance of the project in the formation of a single information and library space of the country is determined. The author describes the programs developed by the National Library of China for the implementation of a large-scale “Digital Library Promotion Project”, launched in 2011; the Project provides for the integration of digital resources of more than 3000 public libraries of provincial and municipal levels, ensuring the availability of these resources on the website of the institution from any public library of the country, via the Internet or mobile devices. It is emphasized that studying of the experience of the National Library of China can be relevant for our country and the national libraries involved in the creation of the National Digital Library of Russia.