Li Anyin, a retired resident in Chaoyang district, said the self-service machines were very convenient and easy to use.
"I can return or borrow a book anytime of the day, even early in the morning before I go for a stroll in the garden," he said.
"Returning the books can be done in a flexible way and you no longer have to rush to have the books returned before the library closes."
Li said he has introduced two of his "morning strolling partners" to the new machines.
Despite the convenience, some residents complain that the machines' selection of books lacks variety.
"Leafing through the books, you can hardly find a English novel or any fiction," said Wang Yue, 24, a graduate from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Tao said there is little demand for foreign language books.
"Most of the books available are Chinese fiction, biography, cookery and horticulture," said Tao. "However, the library will consider catering for different tastes and including more books."
Tao said the library will also consider allowing the public to use passports to register for library memberships, opening the service to foreign bookworms.
Shenzhen in Guangdong province, the first city in China to introduce the self-service library, now houses 160 machines, and 40 more are to be opened by the end of the year, according to Nie Changyou, an officer at the Shenzhen city bureau of culture, sport and tourism.
Li Xinliang, marketing director of Shenzhen Seaever Intelligent Technology Co, the company that makes the machines, said interest in the service is growing across the country.
"In 2008, we only received an order for 10 machines, but the demand soared to 180 in the year 2011," Li said.
"So far we have produced some 460 machines and, as the service is becoming increasingly popular nationwide, it is believed demand will soar."
