Until sometime in the 1980s there was only one library in Shanghai containing "forbidden" books; those that contravened Party doctrine and were unsuitable or even dangerous for the masses to be exposed to. Access was limited to a small group authorized by the government. Books could be taken out by those authorized though they were carefully tracked to ensure return. If you knew one of that favored group, and they were willing to take a little risk, they could pass on a "forbidden" book to you to read and then return to them for return to the library.
If you wanted to reread the book and since there were no copy machines, you had one option - make a handwritten copy for yourself.
Told this by a friend who lived there and read some of those books.
Something to keep in mind as we look at the future.
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