Protection of antique books goes digital

China's ancient books will soon be better protected, including a database of digital copies, a cultural official has announced.

Lectures, academic workshops and exchanges will be held to bring China's bibliographic legacy to the attention of the public, said Vice Minister of Culture Yang Zhijin at a conference on Saturday.

"Ancient books should be an accessible and popular cultural item for the public," the vice minister said.

Yang noted that lack of qualified staff remains a bottleneck in preservation work, and to improve the situation, universities and professional institutions will be encouraged to promote training in the field.