Smart library in Tianjin attracts world attention

Photo by Sun Yifan People’s Daily Online

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots to provide better a reading experience for its guests, the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Library and Archives has attracted attention from readers worldwide, who have hailed the library a successful combination of technology and eco lifestyle.

Covering an area of 35,000 square meters and a building area of 67,000 square meters, the library is a key construction project between the governments of China and Singapore, as well as a major livelihood project of the Eco-city. The library can house 1.5 million books and 1 million archives, currently storing 370,000 books and 110,000 archives as well as more than 2,000 seats for readers.

“Compared to the libraries I have been to, this one has a large collection of books regarding ASEAN countries, which is quite remarkable. I’ve found several books that I’d like to read here, which are hard to find elsewhere,” Malychansy Keutkhuanchai, an editor from Lao News Agency, told People’s Daily Online.

A child eco library has also been established, where kids can play in rooms decorated like tree houses, interact with reading robots, and play educational games.

In addition to its vast and comprehensive collection, the library also uses AI to compile a reading list for its visitors. Based on their reading interests, readers can use smart screens to find recommended books, using their mobile phones to scan the book codes for further information. Sorting robots have also been used to help readers find and fetch the books they want, as well as answering reader questions.

“New technologies are used to provide people with a better reading experience, while the eco-reading environment can encourage the kids to cultivate a good habit of reading,” said Imran Muhammad, a journalist from Dawn News TV of Pakistan, adding that the library serves as a good combination of technology and leisure.