University Libraries Celebrate Chinese New Year Today

Mary Lee, University Libraries

Just a few of the latest additions to the University Libraries' collection.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year on Monday, Feb. 8, the University of Arkansas Libraries presents a virtual book display of popular, literary Chinese titles. A physical display showcasing the books is also available in the main lobby area of Mullins Library.

All of the books in the Libraries' display are available for check-out and the titles are among the most read books in China. "During the twenties and early twenty-first centuries, China's writers have produced a massive collection of works, while undergoing a profound social and economic transformation," said Tim Zou, head of the Libraries' Performing Arts and Media department, and the subject specialist for Asian Studies. 

The majority of these titles are recently published novels by highly acclaimed or controversial writers of the post-cultural revolutionary generation. "These books exemplify their audacious literary imagination and artistic depth as they bear testimony to the sweeping changes in ways of living, social values, and personal faith and beliefs," said Zou. "The fusion of East and West style of living, as well as the collision between modernity and ancient cultural roots, is also unequivocally expressed in these stories."

Since 2012, the Chinese publishing industry has studied the Online Computer Library Center's catalog data to track the most collected Chinese books by overseas libraries. In 2014, 46,359 new records were added into the OCLC database, accounting for a 20% increase over the previous year. Of the 30 most collected Chinese books by libraries overseas, 28 are novels. "The University Libraries are pleased to make 24 of these titles available to our users," said Zou.

Historically, Chinese book sales were concentrated in the Asian countries and regions such as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan. In the United States, books in Chinese have been selectively collected by academic libraries and major research libraries supporting East Asian Studies courses and programs.

China is the world most populous country. Publishers there made more than 256,000 new books available in 2014. A recent article in China Daily analyzed the reception, influence, and the global outreach of Chinese writers. These titles will be on display in Mullins through most of February, but users can also locate any of our books through the Libraries' catalog – and an advanced search allows users to limit by language.