A Journey of Learning: How a Small Library Shaped a Student’s Future

Note: All student names have been changed to protect their identity.

In a quiet village in the Shaanxi Province, a young boy named Zhang found a place that would influence his life. Now 17 and newly admitted to Beijing Sports University to study applied psychology, Zhang looks back at his early years at elementary school with fondness, particularly recalling the impact of a small but meaningful addition to his school—a Reading Room.

Zhang attended elementary school from September 2013 to July 2018. In the second half of 2017, the school received a donation from Sika and The Library Project, which transformed a part of the school into a vibrant Reading Room. This space became a cool retreat from the summer heat and a place where Zhang could lose himself in the world of books. The colorful plastic stools and chairs inside were delightful, and choosing his favorite spot became a part of his daily routine.

The library was one of his favorite places, especially during the noon hours when it was open for students to read or borrow books to take home. In a time before mobile phones and computers became commonplace, reading was Zhang‘s primary source of entertainment and knowledge. He vividly remembers the excitement of diving into a variety of books, from famous Chinese and foreign literature to children’s comics and novels. Titles like “How the Steel Was Tempered,” “Naughty Boy Ma Xiaotiao,” “Pokémon,” “Mysterious Island,” and “Mysteries of the Universe” filled his afternoons and fostered a love for reading that would stay with him for years.

Among the many books Zhang read, one stood out—the “Youth Science Encyclopedia.” This thick book introduced him to concepts like the circle method for calculating pi. Although Zhang didn’t fully understand the math at the time, he managed to memorize 20 or 30 digits of pi, a feat that stayed with him through the years. This experience gave him a concrete sense that “practice leads to true knowledge” and that books hold a wealth of wisdom. It also sparked his interest in physics and mathematics, becoming focus areas in his later studies.

Zhang‘s memories of the library are among the most cherished of his childhood. The reading habits he developed there shaped his academic journey and instilled a lifelong curiosity and love of learning. For Zhang, the library was more than just a room filled with books; it was a place where dreams began to take shape.

At The Library Project, we understand the profound impact that access to books and a quiet place to read can have on a child’s life. Zhang‘s story is a powerful reminder of how a small library, filled with the right resources, can set a young mind on a path toward success. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of reading and the lasting influence that a library can have on a student’s future.