公共圖書館法引領全民閱讀時代

Libraries play an important role in our lives. It’s a place where we can bathe in an ocean of knowledge. Now, there’s even a law that can help us better enjoy the services that libraries provide.

圖書館在我們的生活中扮演著重要角色。在那里，我們可以沐浴在知識的海洋中。如今一部法律的出臺甚至還能有助于我們更好地享受圖書館提供的服務。

China’s first national public library law has gone into effect since Jan 1, 2018, CRI reported. According to the law, public libraries should provide free services, such as lending books and data inquiries, as well as provide public spaces and organize public lectures, training sessions and exhibitions.

據中國國際廣播電臺報道，我國首部《中華人民共和國公共圖書館法》今年1月1日起正式實施。該法律規(guī)定，公共圖書館應當免費向社會公眾提供以下服務：文獻信息查詢、借閱;閱覽室、自習室等公共空間設施場地開放;公益性講座、培訓、展覽等。

Public libraries should be open on weekends and legal holidays. Government-funded (政府資助的) public libraries should also have juvenile and children’s reading areas, with instructors to guide and educate.

公共圖書館在公休日應當開放，在國家法定節(jié)假日應當有開放時間。政府設立的公共圖書館應當設置少年兒童閱覽區(qū)域，根據少年兒童的特點配備相應的專業(yè)人員，開展面向少年兒童的閱讀指導和社會教育活動。

Meanwhile, library reforms are under way to better serve the public.

與此同時，為了更好地服務公眾，圖書館也開展了一系列改革。

“We are working on building a full list of book collections that all libraries across the country will have, which will make it easier for readers to get the books they want,” Han Yongjin, curator of the National Library of China, told Global Times.

“我們正在建設全國圖書館藏書目錄，讓讀者能更容易地獲得想讀的書目，”中國國家圖書館館長韓永進在接受《環(huán)球時報》采訪時表示。

“We are also working on ways to make ancient classic literature more ‘alive’ for modern readers,” Han said.

“我們也正在設法讓古代典籍在現代讀者眼中更加‘鮮活’，”韓永進表示。

These are part of the efforts to promote reading among Chinese people, as China still lags behind in reading rates compared with major Western countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

據新華社報道，這些努力都是促進國民閱讀的種種措施，因為中國在閱讀率上仍落后于主要西方國家。

A national survey by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication showed that Chinese adults read 3.21 e-books and 4.65 paper books on average in 2016, compared with an average of 16 books in Europe and the United States.

中國新聞出版研究院發(fā)布的一項全國性調查顯示，2016年我國成年國民人均閱讀電子書3.21本，紙質書4.65本，而歐美等國的人均閱讀量在16本左右。

Fortunately, more efforts have been made to encourage a love of reading in all people. This goal has been included in the Report on the Work of the Government four times since 2014 and was also featured in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

所幸的是，國家為鼓勵全民閱讀也出臺了更多措施。自2014年以來，“全民閱讀”這一目標已四次寫入政府工作報告，并在“十三五”規(guī)劃(2016-2020)中得到強調。

In fact, many other countries also have laws to promote reading.

事實上，許多其他國家也出臺了相關法律促進閱讀。

The US introduced the Reading Excellence Act in 1998, Xinhua reported. It requires the US government to spend money to support reading programs in schools and train teachers who teach reading. In 2002, the US introduced the Reading First program, aiming to make sure that all students can read at or above their grade level by the end of third grade.

據新華社報道，美國于1998年通過了《閱讀卓越法案》。該法案要求美國政府提供資金支持學校的閱讀計劃，培訓教授閱讀課程的老師。2002年，美國實施了“閱讀優(yōu)先”計劃，旨在確保所有學生在三年級結束前能達到或超過其相應年級的閱讀水平。

Japan introduced the Law for the Promotion of Reading Activities for Children in 2001, according to the Japan Library Association. The law requires each prefecture and local government to make plans to improve reading among children. Japan also assigned April 23 as Children’s Reading Day.

據日本圖書館協會介紹，日本于2001年出臺了《兒童讀書活動推進法》。該法律要求縣級以及當地政府制定計劃，促進兒童閱讀。日本還將每年的4月23日定為“兒童讀書日”。