The National Library of China is bracing for a series of activities to celebrate its 100th anniversary which falls on Wednesday, the library said on its website Sunday.

The library started an exhibition of its special and rare collections on Tuesday. The exhibits include nine treasure pieces of oracle bone inscriptions valuable for research on the later Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC).

Another exhibition featuring the library's history over the last 100 years will go on display on the coming Tuesday. The two events will last till Oct. 7.

Starting Monday, the library will host a four-day symposium on the collection development and service on Chinese studies.

On the following day, a conference on the international progress of libraries will be held there. The event, which will last till Sept. 12, is jointly sponsored by the library and the national libraries section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

The national library originated on Sept. 9, 1909, when the government of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) authorized preparations for constructing the Capital Library.

The library is recognized as the third largest library in the world.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2009)