Page 74 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 43

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

academic research and practice, as well as advocacy programs, the central-branch libraries system
has been adopted as a national policy with the unremitting efforts of Chinese librarians.
Based on literature research of the previous studies, during the past one year, the author collected
materials and data through phone and mail interviews on the building of central and branch
libraries system of over 20 cities and counties, including Suzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Jiaxing,
Chancheng District of Foshan, Xiamen, Harbin, Ningbo, Jiangyin, Yuzhong District of Chongqing,
Changsha, Karamay and Tongchuan. Follow-up field investigations were conducted in some of the
above-mentioned cities or counties.
With a historical overview and reflection, this paper intends to summarize and analyze the
development pattern, operation model, and service performance of central-branch libraries system
in various contexts, as well as the interrelations among the above-mentioned three aspects, in
which way could offer insights and guidance for future work.

1 A historical overview

The development of building central and branch library system since 2000 can be divided into
three stages, with the turning into the next stage marked by at least one landmark event. The
division of first and second stage was marked by the Library Society of China (LSC) 2007 New
Year summit, On-site Meeting on Extended Services of Public library held by Ministry of Culture,
as well as the LSC 2007 Annual Conference. The landmark events that separate the second and
third stage was the project to “Establishing National Public Cultural Service System Demonstration
Zones” (hereafter referred to as Establishing Demonstration Zones) initiated by the Ministry of
Culture and the Ministry of Finance in 2011. With the release of The Guidance by five ministries,
including the Ministry of Culture, the building central-branch library system has changed from an
endeavor by the library profession professional level to that of the government, thus marking the
advent of a brand new stage.

1.1 The first stage (2000-2006)

This stage marks the revival of the service concept of modern public libraries. The 2004 annual
conference of Library Society of China (LSC) held in Suzhou reviewed and reshaped the spirit
of China’s public librarianship for the past century, reflected on the reasons for public libraries’
existence, and made possible Chinese librarians acceptance of public libraries’ concepts for
providing equitable, free and indiscriminate services for all. Public libraries in China hope to better
fulfill their responsibilities, demonstrate their value for existence, improve their social status, serve
more readers and accomplish their professional missions.
The central and branch libraries system is a mature organization form and service model of
modern public libraries service around the world. This system extends library service closer to the