The facade of the Ningbo Library in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The Ningbo Library recently made the 2022 list of the 50 best designs in China released by Fortune.

 "In Ningbo, the birthplace of Tianyi Pavilion - China's oldest library, Tianyi Pavilion, the modern library is once again trying to define a city by its culture. In the age of digital reading, the library is becoming an urban living room that allows residents to from the hustle and bustle of city life," wrote the magazine's editorial board.

Founded in 1927, the Ningbo Library was relocated to the central administrative service area of Eastern New City in 2019.

Over the past three years, the 31,800-square-meter new venue had received more than 2.48 million readers, and hosted nearly 2,000 reading promotion activities that benefited over 9 million readers.

"Tianyi Yueshu", an online book-lending service app launched by the library, won the 2020 IFLA International Marketing Award. Through the platform, readers can borrow books that will be delivered to their doorsteps at a discounted delivery fee. The service now covers the entire city, including remote islands and mountainous areas.

Last July, the library was also nominated for the Public Library of the Year award along with four other libraries from Australia, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

This was the first time a Chinese public library was shortlisted for the award.                                           

The interiors of the Ningbo Library in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]