On the afternoon of April 15, the opening ceremony of the Sias University’s 2026 Reading Festival, themed “Reading for a Better Future,” was held at the south plaza of the Library. Cui Muyue, Director of the Henan Provincial Academic Library Committee; Li Jingwen, Deputy Director; Cui Bo, Deputy Director and Secretary-General; and Wu Hua, Executive Vice President of the University, attended the ceremony. More than 300 representatives from relevant departments, faculty, and students participated in the event, which was hosted by Xie Linhui, Director of the Library.

Wu Hua noted that promoting nationwide reading is an important measure for carrying forward Chinese cultural heritage and contributing to national rejuvenation. He emphasized that the University has consistently regarded the development of a “reading-oriented campus” as a key driver for enhancing educational quality and institutional development. He encouraged faculty and students to make reading a lifelong habit, cultivating character and empowering the future through books.

Cui Bo extended congratulations on the launch of the Reading Festival, highly commended the achievements of the University Library, and expressed best wishes for the University’s future development.

Li Jingwen provided an on-site interpretation of the Regulations on Promoting Nationwide Reading. He pointed out that “nationwide reading” has been included in the government work report for 13 consecutive years, and that the regulations, which came into effect on February 1, 2026, further clarify guiding principles and key tasks through legislative means, providing a solid institutional foundation for reading promotion in universities.Xie Linhui reviewed the Library’s work in 2025 and outlined plans and prospects for the next stage, including reading promotion initiatives, resource development, and service enhancement.

During the ceremony, representatives of Professor Zhao Changhai—a renowned book collector and member of the Zhengzhou Municipal Party History and Local Chronicles Research Office—donated books to the Library. Attending leaders also presented honorary certificates to advanced library collectives, outstanding faculty representatives, excellent readers, student assistants, and volunteers.

At the event, faculty and students from the Library performed a themed stage play titled “The Fragrance of Books Enriches the Campus.” In addition, 40 students recited excerpts from Records of the Five Emperors and texts from the Yellow Emperor Ancestral Worship Ceremony, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

Spring offers the perfect time for reading. The opening ceremony, with its rich content and diverse formats, created a strong campus culture that encourages reading, promotes quality reading, and fosters thoughtful engagement with books. Moving forward, the Library will take the Reading Festival as a platform to further implement the Regulations on Promoting Nationwide Reading, continuously organize a series of reading promotion activities, and advance the development of a vibrant, reading-oriented campus.