Alipay brings books to their borrowers

Alipay also started a "reading circle" on June 1. People can borrow books and share their reviews.

In just four days, more than 50,000 people joined the reading circle. Some users said the book offerings of Lujiazui Library was limited, whereas Hangzhou Library, collaborating with local Xinhua Bookstores, offered more new books.

"Alipay's Credit Public Library will actively explore new models and embrace more local libraries in the system," said Chen Lingling, senior manager of Zhima Credit. "We aim to establish a 100-city book-lending alliance within three years."

Huang Yuning, a department head at Shanghai Translation Publishing House, regards the reading circle reviews as a new approach to promoting books.

"Compared with traditional publicity, the new reading circle is much more convenient," she said, although she also expressed concern about the real value and influence of the new platform.

"Popular books may become more popular, but it doesn't change the real value of books. It more reflects the great power of the market and technology, not the quality of books," she said.

"It needs time for further observation, to see what kind of books are most suitable for the reading circle."

Cao Chen contributed to this story.