Stealing books

[XiaoZhou]

Going to the National Library in Beijing, I was very surprised by how large of a deposit had to be paid in order to take books out of the library. I recall that at the time (2009) a 100RMB deposit was needed to take regular book out of the library, and a 1000RMB deposit to take a foreign-language book out of the library. I was studying in Beijing at the time, and I asked one of the staff there. She, an american girl, told me that it was common in China for people to "steal" books, seeing them as an item whose value isn't diminished after being "consumed." I haven't seen any written sources about this, and I am wondering if anyone is familiar with this kind of a concept. In Chinese culture, is it (or did it used to be) common to view books as public property? Is it normal for libraries to require such large deposits before someone takes a book out from the library?

[chinadude2006]

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy the book?

[xiaocai]

If you have not realised, most national libraries are reference libraries and will not allow their books to be taken out from their reading rooms by individuals (such as Library of Congress, British Library and National Library of Australia). I think it is kind enough for National Library of China to allow its members to actually bring home books they want to read without having to make any photocopies. And no matter how much deposit they ask for, you will get it back anyway as long as the items are returned in their original conditions. I don't think it has anything to do with Chinese culture or what we view books as.

[skylee]

Are we talking about 雅賊 here? Hehehe.

IIRC, anyone including foreigners can apply for a library card of the British Library. Not sure if this is right or if so any fees or deposits would be required for borrowing books. I am travelling so would prefer not to Google for such info. Does anyone know?

[xiaocai]

Kind of reminds me of 孔乙己.

@skylee: hope this will help.

[liuzhou]

anyone including foreigners can apply for a library card of the British Library.

Unless the rules have changed recently, no. This is wrong.

The British Library is intended to be a "library of last resort". That is, you have to prove you need access to their unique collections before you get in the door. Effectively, this means authenticated academic references at post-graduate level.

[langxia]

I should have asked such a deposit for every book I lend someone.

I think it is rather common for bigger countrys to have a higher deposit as it will be hard to track down the person taking it. And as some allready pointed out this is the national librabry where they often have rather rare or/and expensive books and such a fee is for sure not too low.

Btw as a foreigner you can't take books out anyway.

[Lu]

And as some allready pointed out this is the national librabry where they often have rather rare or/and expensive books and such a fee is for sure not too low.

I think it's perhaps even wiser if a library allows only replaceable or unimportant books to be lent out and doesn't let the expensive or rare ones leave the library.

[pprendeville]

are there public libraries in China where you can borrow books?

[langxia]

There seems to be more and more vending librarys (like a vending machine with books in it) in Beijing, but I don't know if foreigners can borrow books there. Might be worth to check that out.

[WestTexas]

I used to go to libraries, then I found docin.

[skylee]

I used to go to libraries, then I found docin.

But docin is no longer a good source. I have found another mainland website that has oh the bestsellers and I guess I should not say its name.

And libraries are great. I love libraries.