The weather was wet and cold at 21:00 on January 30. However, it was warm inside the East District Self-service Library, which is located in the west side of Vanguard Square, where 4 readers were reading and studying quietly. The screen at the entrance showed that a total of 97 people came to the library on that day. More than 5,800 people have visited the library since it opened to public in early December 2017.

Reportedly, the East District Self-service Library is open daily from 8:00 to 24:00 all year round. People can apply for reader’s card, borrow and return books by self-service. The library holds 5,000 books. Readers can also check and download e-books and literature through the reading terminal.

In 2017, Zhongshan has built 4 self-service libraries of this kind. According to the city's ideological and cultural work conference convened recently, the city plans to build more street self-service libraries this year and aims to provide library services in all administrative village (community) cultural service centers.