Introduction to the library

　Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University Library was established in 1957, whose predecessor was the library of GuangdongUniversity for Nationalities. At the time of establishment, there were only 3 staff and the majority of collections were presented by the Central Commission of Nationality Affairs. In 1975, all the collections were classified and catalogued according to the Chinese Library Classification System, and a multidisciplinary collection system came into being, which laid the foundation for library work to be more scientific and standardized. In 1994 Sulcmis III was introduced and management started to be computerized. In 2001, the library web site was built, and library work became automatic, web-based and digitalized. With 12,000 square meters of floor space, the Library now has branches in three other campuses, and can meet the demand of the teaching and research in the university.

　The Library has a collection of more than 1,500,000 books, 850,000 electronic documents (including MA and Ph. D. theses) as well as over 2000 volumes of Chinese and foreign language journals. Besides several self-built databases, it has introduced 22 full-text ones, like CNKI academic journals, Vip science and technology magazines, ScienceDirect and Springer. The literatures and databases cover the disciplines in all schools and provide information resources for improving teaching and research levels.

　"Readers First, Service Foremost" is our tenet. Each year, about 530,000 readers come to the library. The stacks and reading-rooms are open 14 hours a day, from 8:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. (including weekends). The Library provides multi-directional and multi-level services to readers, including borrowing and reading,title track, reference,remote documents delivery, book exhibitions,reviews and recommendations, reader training, and so on.

　The Library comprises of such departments as Acquisition and Cataloguing, Circulation, Journals, Consultation, and Technical Service. Currently, 68 people work in it, of whom 45 (66%) received college education, and 15 (22%) have titles similar to full or associate professors. Through new employment, short-term training, further education, etc, the staff becomes more and more professional.

　Since the mid-1990s, we have been cooperating with the libraries of five nearby universities---South China University of Technology, Ji’nan University, South China Normal University, Guangdong University of Technology and SouthChinaAgriculturalUniversity. Our cooperation involves issuing cards of six universities, procuring foreign periodicals, cataloguing periodicals,academic exchanges,setting up free electronic resource databases, and so on. This makes it possible for the six universities to share their resources.

　The Library has been striving to offer the best information resources and serviceto meet the needs of university teaching and research. Its goals are to build a highly professional team; improve the proportion of professional literature, foreign language literature and large databases; and create a harmonious and comfortable learning environment, with rich resources and advanced management devices. Just as one cannot expect first-class service without a competent staff, how can a university become top-ranking without a modern library！