A total of 69 objects from China, including rare books and special collections will be displayed at the Queens Borough public Library of New York.

Bone relics, rubbings, manuscripts, maps, printed books and works by minority cultures living in China trace the evolution of the written and printed word in China against the vivid backdrop of Chinese society and history.

"It is exiting and gratifying to be exhibiting these treasures in our public libraries, where Western culture traditionally expresses its reverence for the written word," said Queens Borough Public Library Director Gari Strong.

"This is truly a momentous occasion for Asian scholars and appreciators of fine art, to view ancient objects that are seldom seen, even in China," added Strong who visited China in 1997 and signed an agreement for exchange between his library and the National Library of China.

Established in 1909, the Chinese library is a major collector of rare books and ancient literature. It is Asia's largest library in terms of the volume of books.

The Queens Library has the highest circulation of any library system in the United States as it caters for some 2 million people with a circulation of 17.5 million items in 1999.

The exhibition will stay at the Queens Library Gallery from December 10 to March 15, 2000 and then the Los Angeles Public Library will host it from April 15 to June 25 next year, sources said.