Chinese PC maker Asus and the China Association for Science and Technology have jointly announced plans to build popular science libraries, and Asus will invest CNY50 million in the next five years to build 1,000 popular science libraries around China.

According to the plan, in the five years from 2008 to 2012, Asus will build Asus Popular Science Libraries in 1,000 grassroot cities and county-level areas with investments of CNY50 million in popular science books and computers to promote science popularization and information-oriented education in these areas.

Asus' 1000 will cover 26 cities and provinces of China. By the end of 2008, the company had established 100 such libraries in 10 cities and provinces. In 2009, it will complete the deployment of 200 popular science libraries. Each of these libraries will have 3,000 popular science books as well as computers and printing equipment for library management.