A symposium was held on December 28, 2010 to review the decade's development of central library system in Shanghai. With an accumulated amount of millions of cards issued to date and documents circulated with an annual growth rate of 20%, the municipality of Shanghai is providing its residents with convenient access to libraries in the neighborhood.

Mr. Yang Zhenwu, minister of Publicity Ministry of Shanghai Municipality attended the symposium and extended his congratulations to the library circle for its stable growth during the past ten years. A requirement was put forth as well that focus should be put onto the quality of service now that the amount is satisfactory. Mr. Gong Xueping, member of Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, wrote words of commemoration whereas Department of Community Culture of Ministry of Culture and National Library of China sent respective letters of congratulations.

Without changing any administrative, personnel and financial structures of the participating libraries, the central library system consists of a central library (Shanghai Library), branch libraries (district public libraries, academic libraries and special libraries) and neighborhood service points. It is a new type of library combo with the Internet as the means, knowledge navigation as the motivation and resource sharing as the mission. Starting from June 2, 2001 when the first four branch libraries (i.e., Huangpu District Library, Jing'an District Library, Nanhui County Library and Shanghai Conservatory of Music Library) were identified with official ceremonies, this library network has grown mature with rational structure, balanced locations, efficient operation and direct benefits for citizens.

At present, there are 261 participating libraries and six service brands including one-card-through service, e-card service, collaborative online reference service, online entrusted loans, interlibrary loans, and public lectures.