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

Zurong, as a major representative of the New Libraries Movement, established LSE in China with
the education philosophy advocated by the New Culture Movement, namely, open and equitable
access to education for the ordinary people. Thirdly, with regard to teaching content and methods,
the New Culture Movement strongly supported the introduction of western civilizations, promoted
Sino-western cultural exchanges and exerted profound influence on the early stage of LSE in
China. In terms of curriculum, the Boone Library School in its early stage followed that of the
Library Science in the US. After 1928, the Boone Library School and the Department of Library
Science at University of Nanking gradually established curriculum combining both Chinese and
western features. The Boone Library School attached great importance to practical training in its
teaching methods. This is obviously influenced by the pragmatism in librarianship proposed by
John Dewey. Through workshops that invited well-known scholars and professors to give lectures
to students, the Boone Library School expanded the students’ scope of knowledge, which is also a
reflection of modern western education philosophy.

2.1.2 Comprehensive support from the society for LSE in Republican China
First, funding support for LSE in Republican China. For instance, the Boone Library School’s
funding came from various sources of the society. In its early days of establishment, the funding
support mainly came from funds raised overseas by Mary Elizabeth Wood and financial assistance
from Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Boxer Indemnity, obtained with the
efforts of Mary Elizabeth Wood, was appropriated to the School by the Board of Directors of
China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture. This also constituted an important
support for the independent operation of the School. After 1935, the allocation of funds from the
Government became a continuous and stable funding source for the development of the Boone
Library School. Donations for other social institutions and persons also played an important role
in the development of the School (Peng, 2013). Second, the Library Association of China (LAC)
actively promoted the development of LSE. At the 2nd annual conference of LSC held in 1933,
Du Dingyou and some other scholars proposed that “the Association shall advise the Executive
Yuan and the Ministry of Education allocate funds from the Cotton & Wheat Loan for establishing
a central specialized school for Library Science in the capital”. Some other motions were also
passed at this annual conference, including “the Association shall advise the Executive Yuan and
the Ministry of Education set up a national Library Science school in Peiping”; “The Education
Department in every province shall select two students each year through exams, for studying at
domestic library schools. The tuition fees, accommodation and meals allowance will be covered
by provincial education funds”; “The provincial library of each province shall select two students
every year for training at domestic library schools” (Qin, Wei, & Jin, 2010). Motions on LSE at
the 3rd annual conference in 1936 include “Requesting the Ministry of Education for Executive
Order on the Addition of Library Science Courses at Schools above the Secondary Level”,
“Proposal for Holding Summer Workshops by Provincial Education Departments for the Training