University libraries will open to public

University libraries in the capital will no longer serve only those in ivory towers, but will gradually open to the public.

Thirty-four university libraries in Beijing will accept visitors, and 12 of them have already begun to do so during the establishment of the Capital Library Alliance in March.

Most of the dozen universities allow visitors to read in the library without the right to borrow books.

Peking University library is one of them. Established in 1902, with a collection of more than 8 million books, the library allows visitors to apply for a free temporary ticket by showing identification cards. Visitors are eligible to read and make copies in the library on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

"No deposit is required and we have opened the same areas to visitors that we open to our students," said a staff member from the library information desk, who declined to give her name. "But we don't take visitors during weekends."

Tsinghua University library requires identity cards and a letter of introduction from the institution where visitors are studying or working, as well as 2 yuan (30 cents) for a temporary one-day ticket to access the library. Visitors can only read within the library.

However, it may still be a while before the public can visit some university libraries in Beijing.