Li Guolin, deputy head of the Shandong Department of Culture, talks about modern public cultural service system in an interview with www.shandong.gov.cn on Nov 6. [Photo/sdwht.gov.cn]

Li Guolin, deputy head of the Shandong Department of Culture, gave an exclusive interview to the official website of Shandong provincial government on Nov 6, to tell about how to establish a modern public cultural service system.

Below are excerpts from her interview.

Q: What is the current situation regarding building a modern public cultural service system in Shandong province? Are there any improvements?

L: Shandong takes the lead in the country in establishing a modern public service system. Many measures are taken to enrich people's spiritual and cultural life.

First of all, Shandong invested a lot in opening and reconstructing museums, galleries and libraries at all levels. Nowadays, the number of libraries throughout the province totals 157.

Secondly, Shandong has been the first province across the country to issue standards for related cultural departments to provide better public services for the masses.

Finally, Shandong has been promoting for more cities to implement government procurement of public services. Cities such as Qingdao, Weihai and Yantai responded positively by purchasing non-commercial films and performances for their residents.

Q: How to promote building a modern public cultural service system?

L: Shandong aims to set up a modern public cultural service system that covers both the urban and rural areas by 2020 as required by an official document on facilitating setting up a modern public cultural service system issued by the General Office of Shandong Province Government on June 5.

Q: What public cultural services will the system provide for the masses?

L: The masses in both urban and rural areas will enjoy various free cultural services, such as borrowing books and newspapers, watching digital video products, seeing exhibitions, participating in non-commercial cultural activities and receiving public welfare education.

Q: What cultural policies have so far benefited the masses?

L: The Shandong Department of Culture has done lots of things for the good of the masses, such as supporting 1,000 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, bringing nearly 10,000 free performances to rural areas, and giving free trainings to 20,000 square dance instructors.