Nanyang professor establishes public welfare library in Fangcheng

Smiling Countryside Library, the first personal public welfare library in Fangcheng county, Nanyang, was founded by Zhu Shixin, an associate professor of Henan University, and has been warmly received by local villagers and students since its opening.

The library is renovated from old, unused rooms in Zhu Shixin's courtyard. The reading rooms, calligraphy and painting rooms, bookshelves, tables and chairs were all prepared by Zhu herself. The library currently has more than 10,000 books divided into more than 300 categories.

The library has attracted a number of students and villagers since it opened. It is always packed from dawn to dusk. Zhu Linji, a high school student, said that the library has helped him learn more about the world and inspired him to do something good for the village after he graduated, like professor Zhu.

Professor Zhu hopes the library can help villagers and children educate themselves and broaden their horizons, as well give people a feeling of comfort and bring a smile to their faces. In the future, Zhu plans to use her spare time to organize and update the books, making sure the library runs smoothly.