The first thing to strike us when walking around in your library was the size. Comparing to the libraries in Stockholm, including our main library, your library is huge! But it makes sense when hearing about Hangzhou having almost as many inhabitants as the whole of Sweden. Anyway, the size is a big difference, not only when comparing library buildings but also when looking at the activities offered to visitors. We could only wish we had as many visitors to each activity we arrange as you do. When looking at what kinds of activities you arrange one could say we have much more in common. That was clear when the staff at your Social & Cultural Activity Department made their presentation for us. We might be far from each other geographically but when looking at what we do, and the philosophies behind what we do, we are much closer. I take that as a sign meaning we are both on the right track!
During our stay the winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature was presented back home in Sweden. It was an exciting experience for us being in China at the very moment a Chinese author was being awarded the prize. Suddenly an interesting connection between China and Sweden was established. When speaking to librarians in Hangzhou and Shanghai about Mo Yan it was interesting to hear all the different thoughts on his work and on the decision of awarding him with the prize. Some were very happy and told us they loved his works, while others wished some other Chinese writer would have gotten the prize instead. Different feelings like this occur every year when the new winner is announced. And that’s exactly how it should be; a writer who doesn’t evoke feelings of various kinds is probably not a very good writer. The good thing is that in the library we have room for them all, both the authors you personally adore and the ones you wouldn’t read a single word of!
On our last night in China we went to see the Hangzhou premiere of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia. Not understanding any Chinese at all but on the other hand have being raised with the music of Swedish pop group ABBA, the musical was a pleasure to experience. It also made the connection between China and Sweden even stronger!
Thank you so much for letting us come visit you, I look forward to keep exchanging thoughts and ideas with you in the future.
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Salomon Hellman, librarian at Stockholm Public Library, visiting Hangzhou in October 2012 together with colleagues Liisa Eklund and Cindy Kuang.
