B
Shanghai's public libraries welcomed a total of about 304,000 young readers last year, according to a yearly report before 2025 World Book Day. 1. A
Among
them, there were young readers from 49 countries and areas, said the report.
Those readers were aged 16 or younger, and children between 5 and 14 made up 2. n
nearly
90 percent of the total readership. Those between 7 and 9 made up the 3. h
highest
percentage for recent three years. Moreover, there was a sharp rise in the proportion(比例) of readers 4. u
under
the age of 2.
Interestingly, more than 3,700 young readers 5. d
decided
to go into one of the libraries around the city on their birthdays last year, starting a new year with the joy of reading.
As for book borrowing habits, the total number of children's books 6. r
reached
15 million in Shanghai in 2024, marking a 25 - percent increase from last year.
Literature works became the most 7. p
popular
type, followed by art, culture, science, education and sports - related books. There was also a noticeable rise in science - related books about mathematics, physics and 8. c
chemistry
last year.
In 2024, 157 child - friendly reading spaces were newly opened across the city and 9. p
provided
more reading places for teenagers. For example, the downtown part of the Shanghai Children's Library recently reopened to the public after improving its 10. s
service
and environment. The main building now has different kinds of reading spaces, housing lots of reading materials.