Reading is crucial
公共图书馆法引领全民阅读时代
Libraries play an important role in our lives. It's a place where we can bathe in an ocean of knowledge. Now, there's even a law that can help us better enjoy the services that libraries provide.
图书馆在我们的生活中扮演着重要角色。在那里，我们可以沐浴在知识的海洋中。如今一部法律的出台可能有助于我们更好地享受图书馆提供的服务。
China's first national public library law has gone into effect since Jan 1, 2018, CRI reported. According to the law, public libraries should provide free services, such as lending books and data inquiries, as well as provide public spaces and organize public lectures, training sessions and exhibitions.
据中国国际广播电台报道，我国首部《中华人民共和国公共图书馆法》今年1月1日起正式实施。该法律规定，公共图书馆应当免费向社会公众提供以下服务：文献信息查询、借阅；阅览室、自习室等公共空间设施场地开放；公益性讲座、培训、展览等。
Public libraries should be open on weekends and legal holidays. Government-funded public libraries should also have juvenile and children's reading areas, with instructors to guide and educate.
公共图书馆在公休日与国家法定节假日应当开放。政府设立的公共图书馆应当设置少年儿童阅览区域，根据少年儿童的特点配备相应的专业人员，开展面向少年儿童的阅读指导和社会教育活动。
Meanwhile, library reforms are under way to better serve the public.
与此同时，为了更好地服务公众，图书馆也开展一系列改革。

"We are working on building a full list of book collections that all libraries across the country will have, which will make it easier for readers to get the books they want," Han Yongjin, curator of the National Library of China, told Global Times.
“我们正在建设全国图书馆藏书目录，让读者更容易地获得想读的书目，”中国国家图书馆馆长韩永进在接受《环球时报》采访时表示。
"We are also working on ways to make ancient classic literature more 'alive' for modern readers," Han said.
“我们也正在设法让古代典籍在现代读者眼中更加‘鲜活’，”韩永进表示。
These are part of the efforts to promote reading among Chinese people, as China still lags behind in reading rates compared with major Western countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
据新华社报道，这些努力都是促进国民阅读的部分措施，因为中国在阅读率上仍落后于主要西方国家。
A national survey by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication showed that Chinese adults read 3.21 e-books and 4.65 paper books on average in 2016, compared with an average of 16 books in Europe and the United States.
中国新闻出版研究院发布的一项全国性调查显示，2016年我国成年国民人均阅读电子书3.21本，纸质书4.65本，而欧美等国的人均阅读量在16本左右。
Fortunately, more efforts have been made to encourage a love of reading in all people. This goal has been included in the Report on the Work of the Government four times since 2014 and was also featured in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).
所幸的是，国家为鼓励全民阅读也出台了更多措施。自2014年以来，“全民阅读”这一目标已四次写入政府工作报告，并在“十三五”规划（2016-2020）中得到强调。
In fact, many other countries also have laws to promote reading.
事实上，许多其他国家也出台了相关法律促进阅读。
The US introduced the Reading Excellence Act in 1998, Xinhua reported. It requires the US government to spend money to support reading programs in schools and train teachers who teach reading. In 2002, the US introduced the Reading First program, aiming to make sure that all students can read at or above their grade level by the end of third grade.
据新华社报道，美国于1998年通过了《阅读卓越法案》。该法案要求美国政府提供资金支持学校的阅读计划，培训教授阅读课程的老师。2002年，美国实施了“阅读优先”计划，旨在确保所有学生在三年级结束前能达到或超过其相应年级的阅读水平。
Japan introduced the Law for the Promotion of Reading Activities for Children in 2001, according to the Japan Library Association. The law requires each prefecture and local government to make plans to improve reading among children. Japan also assigned April 23 as Children's Reading Day.
据日本图书馆协会介绍，日本于2001年出台了《儿童读书活动推进法》。该法律要求县级以及当地政府制定计划，促进儿童阅读。日本还将每年的4月23日定为“儿童读书日”。