Many colleges and universities across China maintain large libraries. Some things about the libraries will seem very familiar to you, and others may surprise you. UNC's Study Abroad Office encourages students to choose their study abroad experiences from its list of approved programs. Because of the large number and variety of libraries in China, this tutorial is tailored toward the libraries and other information resources UNC students will likely use in these programs. However, the skills you use in this tutorial will help you learn to navigate information resources as well.

Resources that you find in Chinese university libraries are similar to those at UNC-Chapel Hill's libraries. For example, numerous UNC students have studied at Chinese University of Hong Kong, and have found its library quite similar to UNC's. If you look at its Web page, you will see links to the catalog, e-journals, many of the same databases that you have used at UNC, and the same MyLibrary system that you can use to view your library account.

You may encounter many differences from UNC-Chapel Hill's libraries, especially if you are studying in mainland China. For instance, you may only be allowed to have a small number of books at once, or you may have to ask a librarian to give you certain materials. It's a good idea to read your university library's rules thoroughly before you go for the first time. Don't hesitate to contact UNC's librarians or ask a librarian at the library you're visiting for help! If you have more in-depth questions, you can contact the Libraries' Chinese-language specialist, Hsi-Chu Bolick.