Shenyang offers fashionable upgrade for readers

Shenyang, Liaoning province, has built 14 study areas — indoor reading rooms — over the past year and provided residents easy access, the local government said.

Forget the straight-laced libraries of the past: These are hip. Some even offer food.

"They make reading a new fashion and reflect the cultural concept of a modern city. This move has a very strategic vision," said Bai Changqing, former director of the Literature Institute of Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.

With high-quality reading environments and convenient services, many study areas have become trendy sites in the city and offer a new paradigm for what public cultural services can be.

"It's only five minutes by bike from my home. You can borrow books at any time and enjoy wonderful time in the study area," said Shenyang resident Liu Kenan.

Zhao Ri, curator of the Yuhong Cultural Center, cited a survey showing that many young couples live in our district. So we gave the study a family theme. Through communication with Shenyang Municipal Children's Library, we have access to more than 2,500 children's books and picture books."