Health Sciences Library

Peking University Health Science Library was first established in 1922 and its new building was opened in 1989. Along with constant transition of the university, it was successively renamed as Peking Medical School Library, Peking University Medical School Library, Beijing Medical College Library and Beijing Medical University Library. In May 2000, it was renamed as Peking University Health Science Library since Beijing Medical University was again incorporated into Peking University. The library occupies 10,200 square meters with more than six hundred seats available. Two self-check machines and 7 computers for retrieving the location of library holdings are provided for users’ convenience. By the end of 2017, the library holds a vast collection of more than 550,000 volumes, mostly on biology and medical sciences. Furthermore, collections from the PKU library and 6 affiliated hospital libraries are also open for health sciences library users and they can borrow and return them at any library above-mentioned. The diverse range of local and international journals and periodicals includes a gamut of 4480 kinds, of which 712 are currently published. Apart from its printed collections, the library also has in store 108 online databases which include 47627 kinds of local e-journals and 18358 international e-journals. Among the myriad of materials, there are many ancient rare books. We keep the hand-written copy of 'The Holy Benevolent Prescriptions', which is the only copy remained in the mainland. Computer-based automated systems were used in the library since 1993 and many modernized technologies are applied since then to provide better services. Open-shelf services cover almost every reading room and stack room for patron’s convenience. Apart from its printed collections, the library also has in store various audiovisuals including cassettes, videotapes, microfilms and CD-ROMs. The recently introduced multimedia databases further facilitate the users in information navigation and knowledge production. In 1985, the Ministry of Education set up China's sole Foreign Medical Teaching Material Center in our library. As the only nationally acknowledged organization in China, the Center aims at importing outstanding foreign medical textbooks and reference books, thus lending tremendous support to the development in the textbook studies in China. In 1991, our library was appointed by the Ministry of Health to become the Central Library of Literature Resources Sharing Network in Northern China. In 1993, the Medical Information Administration Committee of the Ministry of Health named us the authorized searching station for new research index. Furthermore, it also hosts the National Medical Document and Information Center, which is under the management of the Center of Academic Library Information System (CALIS), founded by the Ministry of Education in 1998. Being a crucial part of the public service program of "project 211", the Center is striving to scale new heights in resource sharing and digital library development. In May 2010, our library was awarded as the Service Library of BALIS Document Delivery System. As one of six subject service centers we will strive to undertake more responsibilities of document delivery. The library is comprised of five departments: administrative office, acquisition and cataloging department, system department, circulation department and reference department. We have 46 formal employees by December 2017, 25 librarians with master degrees accounting for 54% of the total number, and 12 librarians with senior titles accounting for 26% of the total number. Apart from the normal browsing and loaning services, the library also offers information reference, index search for new research projects approval and achievement appraisal, SDI, interlibrary loan, document delivery, audiovisual services, multimedia disc reading, as well as photocopying and printing services. Subject librarians actively carry out targeted literature services for students and faculties in PKUHSC. The library also undertakes medical literature retrieval courses for graduates, undergraduates, evening college students and visiting scholars and carries out freshmen orientation. Hence, the library is not only a rich well of information, but also effectively functions as an education center. Networked to the library resources in all the hospitals affiliated to the Peking University, Health Sciences Library forms a vital component of the Medical Information Keeping System and contribute their parts to cultivate students and promote academic development. In the future, basing on the fundamental principles of patron-orientation, Peking University Health Science Library will continue to make unremitting efforts to strengthen its education and information functions and develop its network services in order to transform from traditional libraries to modern multifunctional education and information centers. . Current Curator: Professor Zhang Daqing Address: No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing Postcode: 100191 Traffic route: Take the bus 386, 375, 392, 498, 606, 632, 693 and etc. getting off at the station Beihang University. Take the bus 331 and 484 getting off at the station Beiyi Sanyuan. Take the bus 660, 751, 740 and etc. getting off at the station Xueyuan Qiao Dong. Take the subway Line 10 getting off at the station Xitucheng and walk northward.