2024-03-27
24 分钟Discussion keeps the world turning.
This is round table.
Hello.
Welcome to Roundtable, where we serve up piping hot debates on the issues that sizzle in China and beyond.
I'm Liu Henglin.
Coming up, in an age where digital convenience reigns supreme, the quiet, book linked halls of university libraries face a new challenge, the noticeable decline in physical book borrowing among students.
Recently, some universities in China are trying to tackle this challenge with some innovative measures.
For todays show, Im joined by Li Yi in the studio and Josh Cotterell on the line.
Now grab your virtual compass and follow us to the heart of the discussion.
Recall the tranquil hours spent among the stacks in a university library, where the passage of time seemed to halt amid the rustling pages of books.
In an era increasingly dominated by screens, the once crowded aisles of university libraries stand at a pivotal crossroads, navigating the swift currents of digital transformation and evolving student inclinations.
This shift prompts a vital question as physical books slowly yield to the convenience of digital formats.
Can the timeless allure of a university librarys printed collection continue to enchant the next generation of scholars?
I have a habit of asking, is it so?
Before asking why is it so?
Yes, there is this discussion of ah, here is a declining physical book reading among the younger generation.
But do we really have facts and figures proving that this phenomenon really exists?
Im afraid so, because when we look at some figures from several universities, libraries here in China seem that it really proved this conclusion, which means that there is a decline of physical book reading or lending among younger generations, especially in colleges.
I mean first of all, lets look at a report on university libraries in Chinas Jiangsu province.
It really shows that the average borrowing volume of physical books per library decreased from 98,200 volumes in 2017 to 35,800 volumes in 2022.