Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area Library. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_78ba52d6e1ed]

The Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area Library has been awarded the prestigious title of "National First-Class Library" by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Located at No 9 Bigui Road, within the development area of Nantong, Jiangsu province, the library functions as a vital public cultural center for local residents. Its interior design smartly incorporates various modern elements. Included in the library are areas such as a children's picture book section, children's reading room, social sciences and natural sciences reading room, visually impaired reading room, newspaper and periodical reading area, special collection reading room, and ancient book reading room.

With a total area of approximately 9,322 square meters, the library stands as a modern comprehensive facility, seamlessly integrating book collections, borrowing services, reading promotion, information provision, and event promotion.

During the evaluation period, public libraries across Nantong showed significant improvements in their facilities, with a total building area of 129,700 square meters, marking a growth of 40.8 percent compared to the previous assessment period.

The service network has witnessed substantial enhancements, highlighted by the establishment of the Nantong Public Library Alliance and the construction of 1,472 branch libraries, bringing cultural enrichment to the community. Services have also improved significantly, with an average of over 1,500 activities held annually and the creation of 86 activity brands, benefiting millions of individuals each year.