After three-and-a-half years of renovations, the new-look Capital Library in Chaoyang district will reopen its doors to the public on Friday. Boasting more than 1 million books and documents, the library will be able to receive 200,000 visitors daily who will have access to new technology that makes it easier for them to read and borrow books.

"The library's new technology aims to provide the public with fair, comprehensive and free information services," Ni Xiaojian, director of the library, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

People of all nationalities will be eligible to apply for library cards by producing their ID card if Chinese or passport if foreigner, along with paying a deposit.

Ni said all areas of the library will have free Wi-Fi coverage and readers will be able to enjoy "cloud reading," which allows them to read books from an Internet browser anywhere.

By entering their membership number and logging onto the library's website, members will be able to search for books, periodicals and documents online from outside the library.

An "e-search engine" will also be launched, pooling all library resources in Beijing together to make tracking down such information more convenient. 

The library's extensive makeover also includes the addition of a special area for foreign literature on the eighth floor in a bid to cater to the needs of foreign bookworms.

Over 500 kinds of foreign periodicals, 700 kinds of reference books and 18,000 foreign books will be available in this new section. Automatic machines on each floor will allow members to borrow books simply by swiping their library card.

The maximum number of books allowed to be borrowed ranges from five to 10.

Machines currently only use Chinese-language operating systems, however staff on each floor will be at hand to help foreign members use the machines if needed.

To cater for people wanting to host audio-visual presentations, the library has a multinational theater, video lounge and exhibition hall to be used for seminars, symposiums and performances.

In the future, more than 100 24-hour self-service library machines will be installed in Beijing, each storing 600 books for people to borrow and return, Ni said.