The future is here | Unlock smart book borrowing at Shenzhen Library in Guangdong, South China

When technology is applied to cultural environments, the ordinary act of borrowing books breaks free from traditional models and becomes far more efficient and convenient. The North Hall of Shenzhen Library in south China's Guangdong Province stands as a vivid example of China's digital practices in urban public cultural services.

Visitors can search the library's collections via on-site smart screens and submit book retrieval requests through a mini-program. The intelligent system fetches books from the underground automated stacks and transports them to the collection outlet via overhead rail trolleys to complete one-stop self-service borrowing.

Andrew Smith from the U.S. tried the entire borrowing process on site and got a close-up look at the convenience of smart book lending. Featuring full self-service, unattended operation and fast book retrieval, the once time-consuming and laborious process of searching for and borrowing books has been streamlined by technology into a smooth experience, transforming the daily reading experience for local residents.