Date: Nov. 17, 2016
Source: JNU Library, News Center
Author: Wen Baohua, Sun Qiman, Wei Yu
Published by: News Center

The Overseas Chinese Literature Museum was established in the JNU library on Nov. 16 on the occasion of the university's 110th anniversary. Over 80 people from libraries in and outside Guangdong province, as well as institutions that collect overseas Chinese literature, attended the opening ceremony, along with school leaders.

(The opening ceremony)

Located on the library's sixth floor, the Overseas Chinese Literature Museum covers about 1,700 square meters. It has four areas -- overseas Chinese, Chinese education, Chinese literature and Chinese media -- as well as the overseas Chinese folk literature exhibition hall.

The establishment of the Overseas Chinese Literature Museum will provide strong support for the construction of overseas Chinese studies, Chinese education, journalism, Chinese literature and other disciplines, and further highlight the characteristics and reputation of JNU as a top university for overseas Chinese, President Hu Jun said. Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum Curator Wang Minghui said the museum is a milestone that will raise the study of overseas Chinese literature at JNU to a new level.

The museum's establishment has received extensive attention. Vice President Hong An read congratulatory letters from the American Chinese Librarian Association, the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia, the Overseas Chinese History Museum of China and eight other institutes for overseas Chinese literature.

A congratulatory message from the American Chinese Librarian Association said,The establishment of the museum and the improvement of related literature sources will enhance the world's understanding of overseas Chinese and promote the integration of China with the rest of the world, which is an arduous but glorious and magnificent cause. The museum has received over 30 donations of literature totaling close to 2,000 items. Guangdong Linghai Archives Curator Li Kaihan donated over 520.

Shi Xiaojun, curator of the JNU library, said the World Overseas Chinese Literature Construction and Development Fund had been established through JNU's External Liaison Office. The museum will develop into a comprehensive, modern and multifunctional place whose overseas Chinese literature collection, displays, education, experience and research will make it the most complete database for overseas Chinese at JNU and research fields including Chinese-language literature, education and media. It can highlight JNU as a century-old university for overseas Chinese to the greatest extent, Shi said, and is also an information think tank on overseas Chinese research, affairs and people from all walks of life.

(Visiting overseas Chinese folk literature exhibition hall)