Our Programs and Results
The Library Project has been operating in China since 2006, implementing our core programs: Reading Rooms, STEAM Classroom Libraries, Children’s Literacy Bags, and Teacher Training.
By the end of 2019, we had donated 1,372 Reading Rooms and 3,225 Reading Corners, placing more than 2 million books into the hands of over 1 million children. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and dedicated team. Today, The Library Project donates, on average, one new program every day in China, an achievement that continues to inspire our work.
We currently operate in 29 provinces across China, focusing on underfunded rural elementary schools, orphanages, and community centers in some of the country’s most remote regions. Our growth is driven by our donors, who often choose the regions they wish to support. Provinces include Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Yunnan.
The Library Project’s China office is based in Xi’an.
Education System
China’s education system is one of the largest in the world, serving millions of students across vast and diverse regions. In 2019, the Ministry of Education reported more than 1.5 million students entering compulsory education. The government continues to prioritize raising education levels nationwide, with goals to expand higher education and improve access to quality schooling at every level.
The expansion of primary education has been one of China’s most significant achievements. Before 1949, only about 20% of school-age children were enrolled in primary education. By 1985, that number had risen to 96%, with more than 830,000 primary schools established across the country. As of 2018, 96% of people over age 15 are literate — a remarkable increase from just 20% in 1949.
Despite this progress, disparities persist. Most of China’s population lives in rural areas, where over 95% of elementary schools are located. Many rural schools still face challenges such as underfunding, limited access to educational resources, and difficulty retaining qualified teachers.
The Library Project works within this landscape to help close the gap between urban and rural education. By building libraries, providing books, and training teachers, we ensure that children in rural schools and communities have access to the tools and opportunities they need to read, learn, and thrive.
Meet our Country Director, Nichole He
Nichole He is the China Country Director at The Library Project. She joined the organization in 2009 after working for a leading English-language magazine in Xi’an. Nichole began her journey as a Fundraising Manager and quickly became a key driver in strengthening communication between donors and the organization.
Today, Nichole leads a team of Project Managers who donate libraries throughout China. She works closely with donors, volunteers, local governments, and rural schools to ensure every project is meaningful and sustainable. Nichole takes great pride in providing detailed reports that highlight the impact of each donation and in ensuring that every library is a positive experience for everyone involved.
For Nichole, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing children gain access to beautiful, inspiring libraries that foster a lifelong love of reading. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Xi’an Fan Yi University.