Page 14 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 43

014 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.9, 2017

In retrieval language study, classification had been the most technical domain for a time. Its
study became difficult after the introduction of ideological discussion. Zhang Yuqi and others
suggested that classification be replaced by retrieval language and incorporated into technical
domain focusing on retrieval efficiency free from non-technical issues. In 1984 the Information
Retrieval Language was published, which indicated the founding of the domain. In view of
international Library Science, although retrieval language existed for a long time, it was not a
complete sub-discipline. Chinese librarians found their own way. This had been the first creative
attempt in the disciplinary theory of Library Science since the New Library Movement.
In resource construction, the term was first used by Xiao Zili in 1984 and was adopted later by
the community. In 1988 Survey and Layout Study of National Material Resources was granted
National Social Science Fund. Reports of the project were published in the Bulletin of the China
Society of Library Science in 1990 or so. The development from collection building to resource
construction was an epitome of that from empirical Library Science to new type Library Science.
The proposition of the concept of resource construction and formation of the domain was
significant for Chinese Library Science. For the first time Chinese librarians set up a domain.

4 1991-2001: Breaking phase

In the 1990s Chinese Library Science faced a critical turning point. On the one hand, the
development and transformation of the discipline predicted that Chinese Library Science would
enter a new stage. For example, doctoral program of Library Science was established. National
Social Science Fund in Library Science was initiated. The Bulletin of the China Society of Library
Science was renamed Journal of Library Science in China. On the other hand, Chinese Library
Science was confronted with great challenges. The South Tour Speech by Deng Xiaoping in 1992
promoted the marketization, which did not fit well with the library due to its principle of public
welfare. Marketization induced decrease of users’ demands on the library. Consequently, the
public library was up against with crises because of financial problems and devalued knowledge
(X.S. Liu,1990). Some library scientists such as Liu Xun went abroad, took on business or other
profession. Almost all of the scholars in the 1980s gave up Library Science. As the approach of
the new century, Chinese Library Science was more confused with the present and the future. With
respect to the history, this period was difficult to comprehend.

4.1 Status in quo of the discipline

From 1991 to 1993, Library Science which had experienced rapid development and transformations
in the 1980s was expected to be reorganized. In the National Seminar of Theoretical Foundation
of Library Science, which was held in Lushan in autumn 1991, Library scientists reached a
consensus on development of theoretical foundation of library science during the 1980s: “Empirical