Hangzhou Library, established in 1958, has a rich history of relocations. Initially, it was situated at No. 6, Jianrenli, Qingnian Road. In 1986, the library moved to No. 254, Huansha Road, and later in 2008, it found its current home at No. 58, Jiefang East Road.
Nestled amidst the picturesque backdrop of the West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda, and Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou Library stands as a modern beacon in a city steeped in natural beauty and cultural significance. While its new building may appear modest when compared to its iconic surroundings, it offers an enchanting reading atmosphere through its distinctive decorative style. The library innovates the reading experience with state-of-the-art facilities and enhances the quality of life for Hangzhou’s citizens with its extensive and thoughtful services.
The library boasts a vast collection of 4.38 million volumes, encompassing books, newspapers, magazines, special collections, audiovisual materials, and database resources. This diverse range of documents spans various disciplines, with a characteristic focus on literature, history, philosophy, art, law, tourism, economics, education, and music.
Hangzhou Library is at the forefront of domestic automated service systems. It provides an ample number of information inquiry devices on each floor and is the first library in China to offer comprehensive wireless broadband network coverage throughout the building. Patrons can access network services and a variety of digital resources with ease, at any time and from any location within the library, using a laptop with a wireless card or mobile devices with Wi-Fi capabilities.The library is open all year round from 08:00 to 21:00.
– Lobby and self-study area: Open from Monday to Sunday, 8:00-21:00.
– Special Collection Center: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-17:30 (with ancient books reading time from Tuesday to Friday).
– Visually Impaired Reading Room: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-17:30 (except national holidays).
– Children’s Borrowing Area: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-20:00.
– Document Borrowing Center, Music Branch, and Film Branch: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-21:00.
