Abstract: ［Purpose/Significance］In the new era, it is significant to study the fundamental task, development directions and important & difficult points of public libraries for promoting the reform of librarianship and enhancing the social influence of libraries. Serving nationwide reading has been designed as an important task of public libraries in the Public Library Law of People’s Republic of China, which also points out the development direction of public library service innovation in the new era.
［Design/Methodology］Statistical data from different institutions over past two years and several typical cases are compared horizontally.［Findings/Conclusion］Status and problems of registration rate, coverage rate and reading rate in public libraries are revealed.［Originality/Value］Increasing the ratios of registration, coverage and reading are the important & difficult points of innovation for public libraries. They are also the key points for enhancing the social influence of public libraries.

Key words: Public library, Registration rate, Coverage rate, Reading rate, Nationwide reading