Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] Rare ancient books are an important carrier of Chinese culture. At present, the focus of ancient books research has been on the original and regenerative protection, while the conservation of inheritance is relatively lagging behind, and the role of the promotion of ancient books reading has not been fully played. The emergence of virtual reality (VR) technology provides a new idea and method for the intelligent transformation of ancient book reading promotion, which is of great value to the construction of a library's intelligent knowledge service system and the innovation of the service mode. With the help of VR technology, the intelligent reading promotion of ancient books shows the characteristics of "narrative presentation scene", "reading service immersion" and "reading space humanization". [Method/Process] In order to provide reference for the research and development of intelligent reading in the new era, this paper first discusses the concept "gene" of intelligent reading of ancient books enabled by the VR technology, and summarizes the application scenarios of the VR technology in the promotion of intelligent reading of ancient books, combined with the National Library of China's specific case on "VR panorama cultural classics". Then the application path of VR technology was put forward enabling the intelligent reading and promotion of ancient books. To this end, this paper first summarizes the concept "genes" of intelligent reading promotion from a macro perspective, and then analyzes the application scenarios of VR technology in the promotion of intelligent reading of ancient books based on the investigation of the application cases of "VR + ancient book reading promotion". It analyzes the construction practice of "VR Panorama Cultural Classics" in the National Library of China from four perspectives of content narrative, visual presentation, empathy mechanism and communication strategy, to construct a "VR and ancient books" reading promotion path. The content narrative of "VR panoramic cultural books" should focus on activating characteristic collection's historical materials and recording key historical moments. In the aspect of visual presentation, it should pay attention to excavating the elements of characteristic cultural scene and reconstructing the landscape scientifically and rigorously. In terms of the mechanism of empathy, the focus should be put on the use of the block type structure to present the history panorama, and the use of typical characters to compose stories. When it comes to communication strategy, it should pay attention to jointly creating a new pattern of "library +" by combining online and offline multi-screen media. [Results/Conclusions] A library should first pay attention to narrative expression, and the control of the narrative logic of ancient book stories. Second, the library should pay attention to scene perception and explore the presentation mode of panoramic vision threshold. Third, attention should be paid to top-level design and giving play to the guiding force of ancient books' cultural engineering. Fourth, the library should pay attention to cross-border cooperation and adhere to the concept of library reader service. In the promotion of reading ancient books, full consideration should be given to the particularity of ancient books resources and existing reading difficulties. In the process of content dissemination, the focus should be on contructing a model through ring upon ring decomposing and progressively thinning method, and taking targeted measures from the aspects of top-level design, strengthening demonstration, building benchmarking, series construction, cross-border cooperation, building platforms, strengthening perception and strengthening ethical supervision, so as to promote the intelligent reading and promotion of ancient books.

Key words: virtual reality (VR), ancient books, reading promotion, intelligent reading