The Zheng Dong Library in the Peiyang Park Campus at Tianjin University witnessed the launching ceremony of 2016 “Reading Month” activities with the theme of “Learning about China, Knowing the world”. The ceremony saw the release of Tianjin University students’ reading results in 2016 as well as the plan for “Reading Month”. During the ceremony, teachers and students gathered together to discuss “how reading is valuable during growing”.
Lei Ming, Deputy Party Secretary of Tianjin University, gave a speech at the ceremony. Academician Liu Heng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shared with others his own experiences and understanding of the value of reading. Also attending the ceremony were leaders from the Office of Undergraduate Affairs, the library, the Institute of Modern Materials Physics at Tianjin University, the School of Science, and the Reading Club of the Association of Retired People at Tianjin University; as well as representatives of the School of Civil Engineering, the School of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, the School of Marxism, and the 2015-2016 annual “Top Ten Reading Stars”.
Office leaders, students and faculty on behalf of various schools, numbered more than one hundred who attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony Tianjin University students’ reading results in 2016 were reported. The report analyzed a total of 3,301 samples covering current undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral graduates from 21 schools extra-curricular reading activities. The statistics showed our students highly value extra-curricular reading, and even the vision of “loving to read” has gained more and more ground. However, time spent in reading and reading quantity was less than expected and needed improvement. Relevant offices and schools have established 8 modules of the activities during the “Reading Month”, such as “Classic Reading Guidance”, “Reading Palace”, and “Reading Together”. It is thought that they can create an atmosphere for reading under the guidance of reading the classics.
Academician Zhou Heng shared his opinions and made suggestions about how to read for both students and teachers. He made the case that China’s per capita amount of reading should be increased, and it is essential for universities to strengthen their education and guidance of students’ reading. He emphasized, first, it is hard to become a versatile person, so one doesn’t have to read the same books, yet one can read selectively in light of one's own special field. In addition, he suggested we choose right books: choose the reliable classics, well tested by practice, with great practical applicability and advanced ideas meeting the needs of the times. Academician Zhou Heng also suggested that students not only read professional books, but also other books. He said: “Reading is good, but reading is not the direct cause of benefit. After reading, one will become more broad-minded. Reading widely is really an important thing.”
Lei Ming said: “Reading gives us wisdom, helps us know the outside world, and builds our inner world. Growth needs to go through the process of destruction and reconstruction, while in this process, the latter is more valuable. Because, one must constantly learn, think, practice for enlightenment before the formation of one's own understanding, viewpoints and methods as one eventually grows into a social individual.” Lei Ming hopes that students at Tianjin University can develop good reading habits to form diversified ways of thinking, so as to complete the transformation before leaving the campus for society, get a better understanding of China and the world, and therefore make a better plan for life.
