In recent years, libraries across the country have explored various innovative measures such as delayed opening and night reading activities, from the 24-hour reading space of Beijing City Library, to the night reading venue of Qingshan District Library in Wuhan, and to the library night event of Tianfu Humanities and Arts Library in Chengdu. These measures have broken the time limitations of traditional libraries, allowing readers to be with books 24/7, enjoy the pleasure of reading, and explore the ocean of knowledge. Tomorrow is the 30th World Book Day, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of China's public libraries launching 24-hour self-service. Cultural venues remain open, while libraries transform into 'night study rooms'. Recently, reporters visited several libraries that offer 24-hour reading services to see how they light up the cultural night of the city. Time extension - meeting the full-time reading needs of readers. Around 8 pm, as night falls, the departure music of the Beijing City Library starts playing. However, the first floor of the Luyun Building area is still brightly lit, and readers come to borrow books from time to time. Gently stepping into the elegant and quiet space of Luyunzhu, what caught the reporter's eye were two huge circular areas in natural wood color. The three low bookshelves on the inner edge were filled with books, and the sofas and stools on the outer edge were filled with readers. Here, time seems to freeze, and everyone is fully focused, immersed in the world of reading. Some people gently flip through the pages of the book, some jot down notes in their notebooks, some concentrate on thinking... Reader Xiaojia sits quietly on the circular chair, holding the book in her hand and reading it attentively. I found a library online that is still open tonight. I often come here to read books after work, "she said with a smile. Another reader, Zhang Cheng, has been coming here frequently to read recently, sometimes leaving only in the early morning. He said that the environment here is good, and it is equipped with facilities such as wireless internet and bathrooms. Even if work is busy, he will take time to come here to study. In the past, most libraries had fixed opening and closing times, with "closing after work" on weekdays, leaving relatively limited time for readers to borrow books. Luyunzhu is a 24-hour reading space opened by the Beijing City Library, which remains open to readers even after other areas of the venue are closed. This reading service has been widely praised since its launch, attracting many readers to experience it. During the interview, the reporter learned that many readers have similar needs as Zhang Cheng. On weekdays, they can only go to the library at night to borrow and return books and read in the library. The 24-hour reading service breaks through the time limit of traditional libraries and meets the diverse learning habits and lifestyles of readers of different ages and professions. Li Nianzu, Deputy Director of the Capital Library, introduced to reporters that the 24-hour services offered by Beijing Public Libraries are mainly divided into three categories: the first is that the entire library area is open 24 hours a day, such as the Yongding Road Street Library in Haidian District and the 24-hour City Study in Xicheng District; The second type is that some areas in the library are open 24 hours a day, such as the Luyunzhu area of Beijing Urban Library; The third type is a 24-hour neighborhood library. In recent years, the construction of new reading spaces has attracted widespread attention. In June 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the "14th Five Year Plan for the Construction of Public Cultural Service System", which proposed to "explore and innovate the operation mode of grassroots libraries, combine with the construction of the general branch library system, and pilot the construction of a number of theme based reading venues with advanced management, distinctive characteristics, and community integration and symbiosis". In March 2025, the National Press and Publication Administration released the "Regulations on the Promotion of National Reading (Draft for Comments)", which proposed that "national reading facilities should be open to the public in accordance with relevant national regulations, publicize their opening hours, and appropriately extend their opening hours during statutory holidays and public holidays". The 24-hour opening of public libraries first ensures the demand for full-time reading. Through this, libraries break down barriers of occupation, income, and education, fully and fairly protect the cultural participation rights of all groups, and provide readers with convenient and flexible reading experiences Associate Professor He Qicong from the Institute of Cultural Innovation and Communication at Beijing Normal University stated. Space Expansion - Creating a Quiet and Comfortable 'Third Space' Unlike a study room at home, a classroom at school, or an office for office workers, a 24-hour library provides people with a brand new public reading space, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in reading and learning in a quiet and comfortable environment. The library is my study room Hao Bowen, a student from a university in Beijing, told reporters that he has been stationed at the Beijing City Library for several nights in order to complete his master's thesis. "Since I discovered this 24-hour library, I often come here to study. The school library and classrooms close at night, and there are few places outside the school that are open all day long. It is really rare that this place is both quiet and free." In the 24-hour city study room of Qingshan District Library in Wuhan, there is also a scene of "burning the midnight oil to read". In the darkness of night, "Welcome to Qingshan Library!" shimmered on the electronic display screen. In the 24-hour urban study located on the first floor of the library, eight rows of bookshelves are neatly arranged, and the "Qingshan District Library 24-hour Urban Study Usage Regulations" are posted on the walls. The tables and chairs are surrounded by green plants, and the soft lighting illuminates this sleepless night for those who are reading. The Qingshan District Library is located near Wuhan Iron and Steel Third Middle School, so a major source of customers here are high school students. Readers who often come to the library have become "old acquaintances" of staff member Yang Jianhua. Yang Jianhua introduced to the reporter that a mother and daughter are often seen among readers in the evening. The girl is in her third year of high school this year. In order to improve her learning efficiency and avoid being distracted by studying at home, her mother accompanies her to the library every night to prepare for her studies. Li Donglai, Director of the Reading Promotion Committee of the Chinese Library Association, has analyzed that there are two main ways to implement 24-hour self-service in libraries - self-service libraries and book ATM machines (self-service book borrowing devices). Unlike library ATM machines, 24-hour self-service libraries not only extend their service hours, but also expand the space for library services, meeting the purposeful consumption needs of eager readers and providing comfortable time-based consumption. Some argue that there are key cultural facilities in the physical space of libraries that can aggregate and shape scenes, known as "comfort objects," which can make readers feel happy and satisfied while reading literature and enjoying services. He Qicong said that public reading spaces belong to such a "third space", which is an informal public gathering place outside of family living spaces and work spaces. A peaceful environment helps urbanites release stress and calm their minds. Especially at night in the library, readers are more likely to have quiet and safe companionship, which can alleviate loneliness and soothe emotions, "said He Qicong. Functional innovation - unlocking multiple values of new cultural spaces. The 24-hour library not only provides more possibilities for reading services in terms of time and space, but also makes various innovations in public cultural service functions. In Chengdu, since 2022, the "Library Night" event has been held continuously, benefiting more than 5.8 million people and answering questions from citizens about "where to go on weekends" and "what to play at night"; In Beijing, the "Library Night" series of activities that have become popular in recent years combines various elements such as literary lectures, ancient style markets, performances, and cultural creativity, attracting the attention of many readers... "The Library Night is such a great activity, you will come and listen when you have time." "Libraries, please arrange activities at such a speed and quality." Cultural and reading promotion activities carried out in various places have made more and more people fall in love with libraries at night. Many young people say that "urban reading" has become a new way to open up nightlife. Public libraries can provide an open and growing platform for people to gather, socialize, access information, and reshape their communities In He Qicong's view, public cultural facilities such as libraries also meet people's social needs. Being open 24 hours a day can maximize the support for reading activities, allowing readers to meet like-minded friends, engage in knowledge exchange, sharing, and recreation, and expand deep social connections. In addition, the 24-hour service offered by community and street libraries is also quite impressive. The Yongding Road Street Library in Haidian District, Beijing has been developed into a 24-hour open reading space, with the addition of a mobile bookshelf called "Little Blue Book Bar" to provide residents with self-service book borrowing and returning services at any time. We should allow high-quality cultural resources to reach the grassroots level and connect the 'last mile' of service Li Nianzu told reporters that the 24-hour neighborhood library is under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, led by the Capital Library and jointly implemented by various district and county libraries. Based on the computer information service network of the Beijing Public Library, public library services are delivered to the neighborhood, which has become an important component of the public library service system. Readers can enjoy free services such as borrowing books, returning books, and applying for reader cards at any time nearby. It is worth noting that while public libraries are innovating and developing, they are also facing new challenges and difficulties. Night opening can lead to higher marginal costs and a decrease in total marginal profits, as well as higher requirements for personnel scheduling, safety management, and facility maintenance. Faced with these accompanying challenges, Li Nianzu introduced that the Beijing City Library has staff on duty 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of readers and respond to emergencies. The seamless borrowing study system can provide innovative services for unmanned and self-service readers. It can synchronize the book circulation data, personnel circulation popularity, and other information of the entire study in real time to the big data screen. It not only provides more convenient services for readers, but also helps book management personnel to manage books accurately, effectively reducing the operating costs of night opening. The construction of a 24-hour public library makes it possible for reading to be integrated into people's lives around the clock. For cities, 24-hour reading spaces are a beneficial attempt to build new types of reading spaces, especially in the context of integrating culture and tourism to create 'night reading' spaces. Li Nianzu said that the construction of 24-hour libraries not only meets the reading needs of citizens, but also promotes the dissemination and popularization of public culture, which is of great significance for deepening the promotion of national reading. (New Society)