The National Library of China will stay open during the holidays around the traditional Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year, and offer a series of activities for readers.

The library has remained open 365 days a year since 1998. During the public holidays in 2000, 39,282 people visited and during last Spring Festival alone 42,714 people used the library.

During the Spring Festival holidays the library will offer a free exhibition of rare documents from Chinese ethnic groups and free movies.

Staff will also show middle school students, pupils and preschool children around the library.

The library's branch at Beihai is organizing a party for 200 physically challenged people who have a specially designed reading room their use at the branch.

Readers can also attend lectures on law and music during the mid-February holiday.

Founded in 1909, the National Library of China has the world's fifth highest number of volumes in its collection.

( China Daily February 3, 2002)