Research Note: Shanghai's Lexicographical Publishing House Library's Holdings on Republican Period Popular Culture and Education

Historical researchers familiar with Shanghai think first of the Shanghai Municipal Library with its outstanding collections of periodicals and books from the Republican Period as well as its strong holdings of Ming and Qing rare books. A little-known gem, however, in Shanghai's next tier of research libraries is the LexicographicalPublishing House Library (Cishu chubanshe tushuguan; hereafter referred to as "Cishu"). Though primarily focused on serving as a reference library for the publishing company of which it is now a part, the library is increasingly open to outside researchers. This expanded public access provides a great opportunity for all scholars of Qing and˙ Republican period social and cultural history. The yields, however, may be greatest for those working on education and popular culture during the late Qing and the Republic.!