Currently, ZhongShan University Libraries is comprised of main library, fundamental library, Depository library, college libraries(sub-libraries), department reference rooms. The present main library building, which was finished in 1982, sets about 14,500 square meters. Newly built (1999) library building with 36,000 square meters' built-up area in ZhuHai campus is served as fundamental and reservatory library. The total sum of built-up area of college libraries and department reference rooms is about 15,000 square meters.

ZhongShan University Libraries was appointed as one of 16 Social Information Centers in China by the State Educational Commission in 1991 and South China Regional Centers of CALIS( abbrebiation for China Academic Library and Information System) in 1998. As one of 7 Regional Centers of CALIS, we are highly responsible for the planning, organization, coordination and implement of co-establishing, co-awaring and co-sharing of information resources among GuangDong province

There has been establishted the following vocational departments in the main library: Aquisition, Cataloging, Circulation, Reading Material Collection, Refernce and Library Instruction, Ancient books Collection, Periodical Management, Technical Support and Administration Office of South China Regional Center of CALIS. Totally, 15 reading rooms and 1,800 reading seats for patrons are accessible now.

The collection of ZhongShan University libraries hold the top ranking in South China Region. ZhongShan University Libraries hold one of the strongest collection among all types of libraries in China. The total amount of the collection is more than 3,340,000 volumes, of which ancient books amounts to 300,000 volumes (items), chinese books over 200,000 volumes, books in other languages 60,000 volumes, bounded chinese periodicals and papers about 27,000 volumes (8,000 titles), bounded periodicals and papers in other languages 17,000 volumes (8,000 titles), CD-ROM databases 29 titles, web-based datatabses 18 titles and self-constructed specific subject databases 3 titles.

Not only has the collection of ZhongShan University libraries the features of nearly complete multi-discipline cover, media diversity and integrated collection system, but also distinctive local style. The libraries contain 2,000 titles (25,000 volumes) of ancient rare books, majority of which are block-printed editions from Ming Dynasty, or the only existing copies in China, or valueable items or pieces with comments by famous figures. Besides, the libraries also own 176 titles (968 volumes) of Korean ancient books, 85 titles (831 volumes) of Japan ancient books and 35,000 pieces of stone inscription from different dynasties, which are very precise in China. The periodicals and newspapers publicated in South China region during the period of late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China are in a rather large and systematic collection part of which are extremely rare in China. The libraries are also highly rich in and very featured by local document collection of GuangDong, Sun Yet-Sen research documents and HongKong and Macao research meterials.

ZhongShan University libraries inherit the optimized library tradition and the ideal library goals of openness, equality and co-sharing. Adapting "Wisdom and Service" as the library admonition, we are now enthusiastically pitching in providing our patrons with open-shelf, free access and high quality service. Now any patrons from inside or outside the campus can be offered with various sorts of services in our library, such as check-out, on-site reading, interlibrary loan, online international information retrieval, Internet browsing, reference assistance, document duplication, specific entrusted information retrieval, instruction on different topics, CD-ROM or online databases search, OPAC access etc..

The computer and newwork hardwares in ZhongShan University libraries are rather advanced. The libraries serve as one of the most significant knots in the campus network. Infomation Retrieve Hall, Electronic Reading Room and Mutimedia Instruction Room with modenized facilities and overall function provide quality garanteed service of different type of e-resources and web resources. Three self-constructed specific subject databases seperately on Education, HongKong and Macao, Pearl River Delta Region have already hold a quite large scale and effection.

Constantly, ZhongShan University libraries hold great emphasis on establishing interchange and cooperation relations with both domestic and overseas libraries and academic institutions, and have already obtained good reputation abroad. ZhongShan University libraries is one of two member libraries in China which have joined the Pacific Rim Digital Library Alliance (PRDLA). ZhongShan University libraries maintain the long-run friendly cooperation relation with LingNan Foundation of America. 1992 saw the onset of Cooperation project of LingNan Foundation of America and ZhongShan University libraries. From then on, the foundation has already granted ZhongShan University libraries for two international academic conferences on library science, aquisition of about 100 titles of foreign languige periodicals, librarian visits and intern programs in USA (6-12 months/per person, per year) and HongKong (3 months/per two persons, per year), librarian attence to International academic conference and visit and instruction of US specialist in library field to China (1 month/per person, per year). Historically, ZhongShan University libraries always keep the intimate and friendly interchange and cooperation relations with academic libraries in HongKong and Macao. Untill now, ZhongShan University libraries has already established inter-library-loan(ILL) and document delivery relations with nearly 200 domestic and overseas libraries.

Over a long period of time, patriotic overseas Chinese, compatriots in HongKong, Macao and TaiWan, domestic famous figures and overseas friendly organizations have generously and kindly given the development of ZhongShan University libraries a large numbers of donations and supports. Dr. Liang JieHua from HongKong donates 10,000,000 yuan RMB to the extention project of ZhongShan University main library in 1999. Mr. Wu Shun-De, an alumnus of LingNan College of HongKong, donated 5,000,000 yuan RMB in 1994 to built the Wu Shun-De sub-library of LingNan College. From 1955 on, the YanBo Bookstore in Japan has continuously been donating their publications to the librarie (about 400 titles per year), which serves as YanBo Bookstore Specific Collection. Besides, there have also established Prof. Chen Yin-que Specific Collection, Prof. Rong Gen (Paleographist) Specific Collection, Prof. Jiang Li-Fu Specific Collection one by one.

ZhongShan University libraries always emphasize academic research in library field. Before 1949, there once was NATIONAL ZHONGSHAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY WEEKLY published by the libraries, which had broad academic influence national-wide. Presently, we are in charge of editing and publicating COLLEGE DOCUMENT AND INFORMATION RESEARCH, which distributed its first edition in 1994 and is sposered by GuangDong Academic Library Committee. There are several very famous figures who were successive deans of the libraries, such as Mr. Du DingYou, a great master of library science with high reputation for "North Liu(GuoJun) and South Du(DingYou)" and "Domestic Du(DingYou) and Overseas Du(wey)", Mr.Yuan TongLi (well-known library specialist) and Mr. Chen YiBai (well-known educationist )) . The famous figures who worked as librarians in the libraries for a long period are Prof. Zhou Lian-Kuan ( founder of modern archives, well-known library specialist, bibliographist, historian and geographer) and Mr. He Duo-Yuan (famous bibliographist and editionist).