The National Conference on the Protection and Utilization of Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions was recently held at the Tsinghua University Library. Over 60 participants, including library curators and responsible personnel for the preservation of ancient books from 24 universities across the country, attended the meeting.

Those who delivered speeches at the event were Feng Shixin, director of the publishing bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the National Leading Group for the Compilation and Publication Planning of Ancient Books; Xu Qingsen, director of the Department of Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education; Wang Bo, executive deputy director of the National Commission for Ancient Chinese Classics Editing and Research by Institutions of Higher Learning, MOE and vice-president of Peking University; Xiang Botao, deputy secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee; Zhang Zhiqing, executive deputy director of the National Library of China and deputy director of the China National Center for the Preservation & Conservation of Ancient Books; and Chen Jianlong, director of the Steering Committee for Academic Libraries of China, SCAL and head of Peking University Library.

During the meeting, Lu Wei, secretary-general of the National Commission for Ancient Chinese Classics Editing and Research by Institutions of Higher Learning; Lou Hansong, head of the Zhejiang University Library; Lin Ming, executive deputy director of the Sun Yat-sen University Library; Bie Liqian, deputy director of the Peking University Library; Liu Qiang, director of the Academic Committee of Tsinghua University Library; Sui Jun, director of the Department of Ancient Books of the Fudan University Library; and Li Dan, director of the Department of Ancient Books of the Nanjing University Library delivered keynote speeches.

The participants also discussed such topics as "Improving the Mechanism for the Protection of Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions," "The Synergy between Library Preservation and the Utilization of Ancient Books and Research on Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions," "Carrying out the Rescue and Restoration of Rare Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions," and "Promoting the Compilation and Digitization of Special Collections of Ancient Books in Libraries." During the conference, the participants also visited the permanent exhibition "A Wealth of Books - Treasures from Tsinghua University Library" held at Tsinghua University Library.

Editor: Li Han