Nanjing Library

In 1907 Duan Fang, Viceroy of Liangjiang, established Jiangnan Library on the site of Xiyin Academy at Nanjing in order to preserve ancient books and scrolls of Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty, and Qing dynasty. Miao Quansun (繆荃孫) was appointed to be the librarian. The Jiangnan Library was the first modern public library in China.[3]

Jiangnan Library was renamed China Studies Library (or Library of Chinese Studies, 國學圖書館) during the Nationalist Government.

In 1927, the University District System was adopted in Jiangsu Province, and according to the system, Jiangnan Library was to be administered by the national university with the additional function of administering educational affairs in Jiangsu, in that year, and then in the May 1928 it was renamed as Library of Chinese Studies, National Central University, the name of which university was successively changed from National Southeastern University to Nanjing Zhongshan University in 1927, Jiangsu University and then Central University in 1928 and finally Nanjing University in 1949. Liu Yizheng (柳詒徵) was appointed to be the chief librarian.[3] In October 1929, the University District System was abolished, and the library was administered by the Jiangsu Department of Education and was renamed as Jiangsu Provincial Library of Chinese Studies.[3]

In 1933, the Chinese Ministry of Education built the National Central Library (國立中央圖書館) on Chengxian Street in Nanjing. The library was relocated several times due to the Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. Jiang Fucong (蔣復璁) was the chief librarian. Towards the end of 1948, Jiang Fucong took about 130,000 volumes of rare books to Taiwan under instructions of the Republic of China. The core of this collection was formed by the "Rare Book Preservation Society" (文獻保存同志會) in 1940–41. In May 1949, the library was handed over to the Nanjing Military Control Commission.[3] During the civil war National Central Library moved to Taipei and the remained in Nanjing was later renamed Nanjing Library.

On March 19, 1950, National Central Library was renamed as National Nanjing Library by the Ministry of Culture, and was put under the joint administration of the Bureau of Cultural Relics and Ministry of Culture. He Changqun was appointed as chief librarian. In October 1952, National Nanjing Library merged with Jiangsu Provincial Library of Chinese Studies.[3] In July 1954 the library renamed Nanjing Library and was supervised by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture. Wang Changbing was appointed as chief librarian.[3]