19世纪末,在西方列强的冲击下,中西文化交流日益频繁,中国社会各方面摆脱传统的束缚,开始走向现代化。在图书的收藏、阅读、使用、传播方面,延续千年的传统私人藏书楼已不能发挥传播文明,教育民众的作用。在一批官员、学者的积极推动下,中国近代的图书馆事业由此诞生。陶风楼作为中国近代最早的公共图书馆之一,是在清两江总督端方的支持下,由号称“中国近代图书馆之父”的著名历史学家、版本学家、藏书家缪茎孙创建,由著名历史学家、教育家柳诒征振兴发展起来。无论是规模、还是影响,陶风楼堪称中国近代公共图书馆发展的历史见证。 At the end of the 19th century, under the impact of Western powers, the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures became increasingly frequent. All sectors of Chinese society got rid of the traditional shackles and began to move toward modernization. In the collection, reading, use and dissemination of books, the traditional private library that has lasted for more than a thousand years can no longer play the role of spreading civilization and educating the public. With the active promotion by a group of officials and scholars, the modern Chinese library was born. As one of the earliest public libraries in modern China, Tao Fenglou is a well-known historian, reviser and collector of books known as the “Father of Modern Chinese Libraries” with the support of Duan Fang, the Governor of Qing Dynasty. Stem and Sun created by the famous historian, educator Liu Zhen Zheng Zhenxing developed. Whether it is the scale or the influence, Tao Fenglou can be regarded as the historical testimony of the development of modern Chinese public libraries.