In March 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao acknowledged that the situation in the Chinese countryside is desperate and claimed new resources would be devoted to healthcare and education. This announcement should have pleased architects of the Chinese "learning initiative" who are building learning cities and villages. The authors describe why…

Planning guidelines for community resource centers (CRCs) are introduced by an overview of current thought and existing programs in education, information, library, communication, and social services. Criteria for locating and housing a CRC are discussed. User diagrams, space diagrams, and performance guidelines are provided for ten services which…