A window open to the world

1. A window open to the world Chen Xuyan International Cooperation Division, Shanghai Library

2. Window of Shanghai Connecting People, Encouraging Understanding

3. The purpose of “Window of Shanghai” To make the newest Chinese publications available to the overseas Chinese around the world, so as to continue their own languages and cultural identities; and to accelerate their pace to integrate into the indigenous society. To cater for the world’s desire to know more and better of China, for various reasons such as seeking business opportunities or sightseeing in the country. To promote Shanghai Library itself through establishing cooperative relationships with libraries worldwide, on which base cooperation in a more comprehensive and in-depth manner could be developed.

4. Chinese migration in an international scenario Total number of worldwide migrants has hit 175 million. One out of every 35 persons, or 3 percent of the world population is an international migrant. 33 million overseas Chinese living throughout the world; more Chinese are going abroad as temporary students and workers. 91% of these Chinese are living in the nearby Southeast Asian countries, and developed countries such as U.S., Canada and European countries.

5. Chinese publications outside China Chinese publications take up a small overseas market share: only 3.21 million copies were exported during 1997~ 2003. Overseas end readers are mostly Chinese people and sinologists. Chinese books held by overseas libraries are often found worn-out, and outdated in content. There are complaints about budget slash and the limitedness of Chinese publications to make a choice among overseas libraries. There is increasing eagerness to import more newly published Chinese materials into library collection as well.

6. How does the program run? Shanghai Library selects overseas libraries as partners and donates books. In this process all the expenses including book procurement and shipment are covered by Shanghai Library. The program usually starts with 500~800 copies in the first year, and then 100 copies every year as addition, within an agreed period of time, normally 2 or 3 years, to ensure continued growth and development of the collection. Feedback information should be provided by the partners, so that Shanghai Library can modify the scope of annual additions in the following years.

7. The gift books Date of Publication Languages Subjects Book List History, architecture, economy, folk arts, tradition, philosophy, literature, cooking, tourism, medicine, language learning, popular science, politics, dictionaries & encyclopedias… About past and present of China and Shanghai. The gift books are not old ones that the library is to weed to free up its storage space All of them are published in the recent 2 or 3 years. Choice can be made on the basis of a book list including book title, publisher, year of the publication, format, ISBN. Has included almost all the domestic publications that published with foreign languages. Altogether 16 languages can be selected. Most are published in Chinese and English, or in bilingual. There are also French, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Turkish and so on.

8. Who are the partners? Libraries that haveformal or informal relationship with Shanghai Library Major public libraries of the sister cities of Shanghai worldwide University libraries that serves the general public along with the students and faculties Any other library that can ensure the full accessibility of the donations to the local people is welcome

9. 2006 2003 2004 2005 World’s windows on China and Shanghai 2005.2, The Public Library of The Hague, the Netherlands 2005.4, Bibliothèque de Montreal, Canada 2005.5, Cork City Library, Ireland 2005.5, Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon, France 2005.9, eThekwini Municipal Library of Durban, South Africa 2005.10, City Public Library of Gdansk, Poland 2005.10, City Library of Zagreb, Croatia 2006.4, The National Library of Hungary 2006.4, The Austrian National Library 2006.7, Queens Borough Public Library, N.Y., USA 2006.7, Nekrasov Central City Public Library, Moscow, Russia 2006.7, The Ohio State University Libraries, USA ……. 2004.9, The National Library of Cuba 2004.9, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt 2004.10, The National Library of Czech Republic 2004.10, Göttingen State & University Library, Germany 2003.8, The City Library of Milan, Italy 2003.10, Russian State Library (Moscow) 2003.10, Tampines Regional Library of the National Library of Singapore

10. How to manage and promote the books? Books can be centralized in a specifically allocated room or “corner”, on open shelves. For libraries that are challenged by limited spaces, books can be integrated into the existing collections, in classifying orders. Appropriate means to publicize the books to users are required, such as visible indicators or posters; bookplates or bookmarks attached to every book; promotions via library pamphlets, public announcement or library web sites, etc.

16. “Window of Shanghai” in sister city events At the end of 2004 Shanghai Library proposed a motion to an annual plenary session convened by the city government, in order to formalize the “Window of Shanghai” as an inter-city cultural program. It was reviewed carefully by Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance, and finally got approval when the session concluded.

17. 中 国 上 海 Shanghai Municipal Peoples’ Government Benefits from cooperating with the government: Financial support; Simplification of administrative procedures; exemption of custom duties when shipping books abroad; Wider coverage by local media and more public awareness and attentions. Help to find new partners.

19. Collaborate with local publishers An agreement with Shanghai Press & Publishing Development Co. to bring a series “Cultural China” into collection of “Window of Shanghai”. SPPD will become a big supplier of “Window of Shanghai”. Shanghai Library will review its new publications regularly and discuss with it to decide which titles to introduce.

20. Partnership with the tourism sector Agreement with Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission to boost tourism in the coming years through cooperation around “Window of Shanghai”. Shanghai Library will send photo albums titled "Touring in Shanghai"to its overseas partners of "Window of Shanghai".

21. CALA list serve dissemination Publicize the program across the CALA (Chinese American Librarianship Association) list serve, an emailing list shared by Chinese librarians living and working in North America. Add Your Text Minneapolis Public Library of U.S., McGill University Library and Dr. John Archer Library of Regina University of Canada are going to be the next three homes to “Window of Shanghai”.

23. Challenges Still less than enough new publications every year to ensure an often update of the book list; Too few multimedia materials are available, such as talking books, audio-visual items such as CD, VCD or DVD; Add Your Text Difficulties in classifying and cataloguing books with Chinese languages, so a certain number of potential partners eventually gave up ; More human power and professional skills are in need.

24. Good news More importance has been attached by the library’s governing body, stress from short-handedness is being eased; It is possible for the partners to have complimentary bibliographic records; Shanghai Library will help do this job; Add Your Text The central government has begun to paying more attention. A “Window on China” program is planned on the basis of the mode of “Window of Shanghai”.

25. Thank You ! Please Contact: Chen Xuyan :xychena@libnet.sh.cn