Book-sharing mini program gives life to home books

With her phone ringing ding-dong, Lv Wei, a native of Foshan city, south China’s Guangdong province, received a message of borrowing a book. Then, she wrapped up the book, which was soon taken away by a delivery man from her house.

Book lover Wang Yifan was about to borrow Mi Xiaoquan’s School Life from the library, she but found that it had already been borrowed by someone else. She thought that the only way to get the book is to buy it.

However, by chance, she found the mini program Ex-Book for book-sharing service. After registering online, readers can upload the information of books lying idle in their houses online for others needed. In return, they can borrow books, too.

Wang decided to try. Then, she registered and searched for the book she wanted. Luckily, the book in need was uploaded by another citizen not long ago. She was surprised and sent an order. The day after, she got the book.

The story of establishing such an online platform for book sharing started in September 2019, when a Foshan citizen asked a question in the WeChat service group of Foshan Library. He asked that if the books lying idle home could be borrowed to other readers just like the library.

Meanwhile, many readers said that new books and those popular ones always fall short of demand. How could the supply and demand sides be connected? The questions and views of readers captured attention from Foshan Library.

Then, Foshan Library has launched the online book-sharing service and named the program “EX-Book” in April 24, 2021. After registration, the readers began searching for books stored at home and in the library at the same time easily.

“The circulation of books home and in the library happens on the same online platform, breaking the boundaries and limitations of these sources,” said Chengyan, director of the operation management department of Foshan Library. “This is a full use of the whole society for increased supply of books. It helps release our pressure on providing public books as well.”

To make it easier for the readers to borrow and lend the books, the platform offers two ways to get books: through delivery service or face-to-face handover.

“We are encouraging more to use this platform. Readers can get credits every time they borrow, return or like books,” said Chen Yan, adding the credits can be used to pay the delivery fee.

“From time to time,” said Chen, “the platform will send coupons of ‘free delivery’ to the readers.”

Source: People’s Daily; Trans-editing by Wang Yunya