# United Combined Digital Reference Services
**Wikidata**: [Q107429558](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107429558)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/united-combined-digital-reference-services

## Summary
The United Combined Digital Reference Services (UCDRS) is a Chinese website and organization established to provide integrated digital reference services, connecting libraries and information resources across the People's Republic of China. Launched in 1990, it serves as a national alliance to facilitate resource sharing and research support. UCDRS operates through its website (http://www.ucdrs.superlib.net/), offering content primarily in Chinese.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1990.
- **Aliases**: UCDRS, 联合参考咨询网, 全国图书馆参考咨询联盟, 聯合參考諮詢網.
- **Country**: People's Republic of China.
- **Website**: http://www.ucdrs.superlib.net/ (content in Chinese).
- **Instance of**: Both a website and an organization.
- **Sitelink Count**: 1 (limited online presence).
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Chinese (zh).
- **Identifier**: Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 81165.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11rgql20w8.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the United Combined Digital Reference Services?
A: The UCDRS is a Chinese digital platform and organization founded in 1990 to provide integrated reference services, connecting libraries and research institutions nationwide.

### Q: When was UCDRS established?
A: It was established in 1990.

### Q: What is the primary purpose of UCDRS?
A: Its main goal is to facilitate resource sharing and provide research support through a unified digital network of Chinese libraries and information centers.

### Q: Is UCDRS accessible in languages other than Chinese?
A: The platform primarily serves Chinese-language content, as indicated by its website qualifiers.

## Why It Matters
The United Combined Digital Reference Services plays a critical role in China’s information infrastructure by unifying library resources and expertise into a single accessible platform. Since its inception in 1990, it has addressed the challenge of fragmented information access across the country, particularly in academic and research contexts. By fostering collaboration among libraries, UCDRS promotes efficient resource sharing, reduces duplication of efforts, and supports scholarly work. As one of China’s earliest digital reference initiatives, it has set a precedent for national-scale information systems, contributing to the modernization of library services and the broader goal of lifelong learning and research innovation.

## Notable For
- **National Alliance**: Unites libraries and institutions across China into a cohesive network.
- **Early Adoption**: One of the first digital reference services in China (launched in 1990).
- **Chinese-Language Focus**: Prioritizes content and services tailored to Chinese-speaking researchers.
- **Encyclopedia Recognition**: Documented in the *Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition)* (ID: 81165).
- **Dual Identity**: Functions as both a website and a formal organizational entity.

## Body
### History and Background
The United Combined Digital Reference Services was established in 1990 as a national initiative to integrate China’s library resources. It operates as an alliance of libraries and information centers, emphasizing collaboration and shared access to digital reference materials.

### Technical Details
- **Website**: The platform is hosted at http://www.ucdrs.superlib.net/, with content delivered primarily in Chinese (qualifier: P407).
- **Structure**: Combines the functions of a website and an organization, reflecting its dual role as a digital portal and a coordinating body.

### Classification and Identifiers
- **Instance Of**: Categorized as both a "website" and an "organization" in knowledge graphs.
- **Unique IDs**: 
  - Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11rgql20w8.
  - Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 81165 (qualified by "全国图书馆参考咨询联盟").

### Legacy and Impact
UCDRS has streamlined access to reference materials in China, particularly in academic and research environments. Its model of resource sharing has influenced the development of subsequent digital library networks, though its online presence remains limited (sitelink count: 1). The service is recognized for its early adoption of digital solutions to address information disparities in China.