Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library successfully held the 10th Book Fair from April 16-23, 2025. Following the recurring activity of “You Select, We Collect,” all DKU community members, including students, faculty, and staff, were given the option to browse a wide selection of books and to select titles for their educational and research needs.
A total of 308 participants selected 2,324 books (before duplicate check) for the Library this year. Following the event, DKU Library staff will review, acquire, and process the selected titles to be added to the library collections.
The on-campus book selection was held on April 22 and April 23, displaying a vast variety of books provided by two of the largest book vendors in China, CEPIEC（中国教育图书进出口有限公司）and CNPIECSB（中国图书进出口上海有限公司）. Books on display were in categories matching DKU research and teaching programs, providing a convenient channel for faculty and students to select academic resources. The selection also further enriched the Library’s collection, supporting the University’s teaching and research development.
Apart from the traditional on-campus book selection, this year, DKU community members had the opportunity to visit the eslite bookstore suzhou and select books directly within the bookstore for the first time. In 1989, eslite opened its first store with the business philosophy of “Humanities, Art, and Creativity into Life” and is now a comprehensive cultural space focusing on cultural creativity. The top five categories of books selected by DKU users from eslite bookstore suzhou are contemporary Chinese literature, Chinese history, Japanese literature, cultural studies, and sociology.
Participants also attended a lecture at eslite bookstore suzhou featuring renowned translator Zhongxian Yu, who delivered a lecture on Albert Camus’ classic works, “The Outsider” and “The Plague.” Yu shared insights from multiple perspectives, including historical context, textual interpretation, and philosophical reflections, leading the audience to appreciate the charm of Camus’ novels.
Along with the book selection events, DKU Library also hosted a series of interactive activities and cultural lectures to promote the awareness of reading and knowledge sharing.
On April 16, DKU Library hosted the “Books for Veggies” event, which saw enthusiastic participation from the DKU community. By promoting the recycling of books, this event was designed with the concept of environmental protection and sharing. A total of 101 participants brought in spare books and exchanged them for fresh vegetables. The 263 books received, including 149 regular books and 114 children’s books, will be added to the Library collection or the Children’s Reading Room collection upon being evaluated and processed by Library staff.
In addition, the Book Fair featured a panel discussion featuring the hosts of a well-known Chinese cultural podcast “Stochastic Volatility” around their journey to become podcast creators and their reflections on social issues, attracting 92 audience members. Another cultural conversation was between 34 participants with Prof. Ben Van Overmeire and Prof. James Miller around Prof. Van Overmeire’s new book, “American Koan: Imagining Zen and Self in Autobiographical Literature.”
Thanks to everyone participating in the 2025 DKU Library Book Fair! We all Library staff hope you enjoyed these events, and we look forward to bringing you more activities in the next book fair.
