Xiangyang Daily (Zhu Ke and Peng Yiwei, the All-media Journalists, and Xie Qiqi, the Correspondent) On January 1, the journalists learned from the Xiangyang Library that the “An Evaluation Report on the Impact of Chinese Libraries (2025 Edition)” ( hereinafter referred to as the “Report”) has been officially released. The “Report” is recognized as the authoritative assessment in China’s library sector. Owing to its outstanding overall performance, the Xiangyang Library distinguished itself among its peers and was awarded the highest five-star rating. Ranking third in Hubei Province, behind only the Hubei Provincial Library and the Wuhan Library, it has now entered the upper echelon of public cultural service institutions within Hubei Province.

The “Report” conducted a comprehensive assessment of 2,919 university libraries, 1,980 public libraries, and 390 specialized libraries across China, assessing their performance across five key dimensions: foundational strength, website influence, new media influence, social impact, and academic influence. This assessment offers a comprehensive overview of the development and impact of libraries in China. The Xiangyang Library’s recognition as a five-star institution signifies authoritative national recognition of its service quality, resource capacity, and social impact.

It has been reported that in recent years, the Xiangyang Library has steadfastly adhered to the principle of “putting readers first and providing paramount service,” with a strong emphasis on resource development and reader-oriented services. The library now houses more than 2.39 million printed materials spanning 22 major subject categories. Its collections include 40,499 volumes of ancient books and 5,394 rare editions, among which are treasured works—such as a Yuan-dynasty printed edition of “Collection of Yuefu Poetry” — that rank among the most significant in Hubei Province. Additionally, the library preserves approximately 312,200 Chinese newspapers and periodicals, and maintains annual subscriptions to over 800 titles. Its digital resources exceed 162 TB, including 300,000 e-books and 100,000 audiobooks. The library has also developed distinctive in-house databases such as Hanshui River Culture and Old Photos of Xiangyang. As of 2025, its digital resources have recorded 5.2 million views and 420,000 downloads.