Various reading spaces enrich lives of Longwan residents

People read books at a library in the Josiny Industrial Park in Longwan district, Wenzhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Different kinds of public reading centers have emerged in Longwan district, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, catering to the diverse needs of local communities.

Wenlan Academy in Yongle village, Yongxing sub-district, Longwan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wenlan Academy in Yongle village, Yongxing sub-district, Longwan was founded by local residents. Spanning an area of 186 square meters, the academy features lecture halls and various reading zones equipped with electronic reading devices. Renowned scholars and teachers are frequently invited to give lectures.

Students learn calligraphy at a rural book house for the disabled. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A rural book house for the disabled was also built in Longwan in 2013 by Wang Jianhai, a literary worker with disabilities, with the assistance of the local government. The book house boasts a collection of over 20,000 volumes and sometimes organizes events like poetry clubs and agricultural technology training sessions.

It also offers free courses on calligraphy and chess, which have benefited over 20,000 people from surrounding areas. In 2017, the book house was recognized as a provincial-level rural book house.

Within the Josiny Industrial Park in Longwan, there also stands a public library occupying a total area of about 900 square meters. The library houses over 45,000 books, including more than 18,000 children's books and picture books. The library aims to provide high-quality learning and recreational facilities for people working in the park along with their children.