Short introduction

The library was established in 1957, the year of the foundation of the Institute for the History of Natural Science. Now, after more than 50 years of efforts by enthusiastic people, the library became a professional library particularly for the history of science and technology. The books and journals currently hold by the library are more than 140000 items, in which there are about 3800 items or nearly 25000 volumes of bounded books, about 70000 volumes of Chinese books, about 16000 volumes of Western books, in addition 5000 volumes of Japanese books and 6000 volumes of Russia books are also hold by the library.
The ancient Chinese books collection of the library includes a photocopy of the famous Siku Quanshu (四库全书), the Xuxiu Siku Quanshu (续修四库全书), the Siku Weishou Jikan (四库未收辑刊), the Siku Jinhuishu Congkan (四库禁毁书丛刊), the Gujin Tushu Jicheng (古今图书集成) and others. The honorable historian of science Li Yan donated hundreds of ancient arithmetic books to the library, now the books are placed in the rare book room together with other rare books on Canon (经), History (史), astronomy, arithmetic, medicine and Local Gazetteers of China (方志).The library serves as an important research tool not only for the researchers of the Institute for the History of Natural Science but also for scholars and students all over the world.