Page 55 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 43

XIAO Ximing / The interaction between Library Science Education and the society in China over the past century 055

In 1920, American scholar Mary Elizabeth Wood, along with Shen Zurong and Hu Qingsheng,
who returned to China after studying in the US, established Boone Library School, the first formal
LSE institution in China and a landmark of the beginning of China’s LSE. During the War against
Japanese Aggression, the Boone Library School moved westward to Chongqing in 1938, returned
to Wuchang in 1947 and was handed over to the people’s government after 1949. Apart from
Boone Library School, some other universities established Library Science as a major or Library
Science courses. For instance, University of Nanking opened courses on Library Science and later
established department of Library Science. Guomin University in Shanghai also set up Library
Science department, and the National Social Education Institute in Bishan, Sichuan,founded the
Department of Library Science and Museum Studies. However, the operation of most of these
institutions was suspended periodically. In 1947, Library Science major was established within the
Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University.
Although mainly privately operated, such as the Boone Library School, it is evident that LSE
during the Republican China period was closely linked with the society.

2.1.1 Profound influence of the New Culture Movement on LSE in Republican China
LSE in Republican China originated and developed almost in parallel with the New Culture
Movement. As a cultural reform campaign, an ideological enlightenment, as well as a profound
social change, the New Culture Movement, first and foremost, exerts its influence on LSE in
terms of education system. “The New Culture Movement actively advocates western civilization,
and science and technology. Furthermore, the Movement reforms China’s old social, political
and cultural institution with western model” (Zhi, 2009). As an important component of new type
of education, library and LSE definitely attracted attention. “The current development trends
in education mainly rely on libraries. The development of national culture also is dependent on
libraries… Without the prosperous development of LSE, the transmission of Chinese civilization
will be constrained.”(Petition of the Library Association China’s Board of Directors, 2005, p.555)
Therefore, the most important significance of Boone Library School lies in the modern LSE
system that follows western pattern. Even in specific length of schooling, Boone Library School
modelled on the pattern of New York State Library School of the US, which was founded by John
Dewey. All students were recruited from those who had finished two years of university study.
The length of the program lasted two years, and graduates were conferred bachelor’s degree and
a diploma in Library Science. The Library Science major of the Chinese language and literature
department of Peking University also offered a 2-year program, with students enrolled from
graduates or students who failed to complete his study. Secondly, in terms of education philosophy,
the New Culture Movement actively advocated western democracy and liberty, strongly criticized
the feudal autocracy and feudal cultural thoughts. In this way, the New Culture Movement served
as the spiritual resources of the “New Libraries Movement”, which focused on transforming the
old-fashioned libraries, and spreading western theories and practices of Library Science. Shen