BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China will establish 200,000 libraries in rural areas by the year 2010, in a major move to bridge the "information gap" and help the farmers get rich fast, according to a government program to be issued soon.

    "The Rural Library Project aims to gradually solve the long-standing difficulty of farmers in getting good books to read," said Long Xinmin, head of the General Administration of Press and Publication, at a recent meeting.

    Under the program, each library will have at least 1,000 books,30 newspapers and some audio and video products that are "useful and understandable" to farmers.

    The libraries, supported by government funds and donations from society, will be managed by farmers themselves.

    Earlier, the Rural Library Project has been carried out on a trial basis in more than 10 provinces and municipalities. More than 3,000 rural libraries have been built up.

    The public service program is part of China's effort to boost development of cultural undertakings in rural areas, along with the national endeavor to build a harmonious society that is moderately prosperous in an all-round way.