Page 77 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 43

QIU Guanhua / The construction of central and branch libraries in China since the 21st century 077

Other than the practical progress, the theoretical exploration often takes the form of case study
at this stage. These studies reflect on the experience and achievements of public library service
system construction in different environment from varied aspects. Though deeper analysis,
comparison and study have not been done, it’s no doubts that the results have promoted the general
and branch library system and provided path and experience for its construction.

1.2 The second stage (from 2007 to 2010)

The LSC keenly took note of the function of the construction of central-branch library on
universally equal service, and the great significance and value of the ongoing construction of
central-branch library for the development of domestic librarianship and the fulfillment of library
mission. Then the topic “The Research of Library Service Network Construction” was proposed
at 2007 New Year Summit held in December 2006. Thus the construction of central-branch library
of public library at home entered a phase in which practical exploration and theoretical study were
paid equal attention to.
In this stage, there were no policies or documents specialized in promoting the construction
of central-branch library at the national level. But in many laws, regulations and policies, such
as The Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s
Republic of China, Culture Development Program during the National 11th Five-Year Plan Period,
Indicators for Construction Land Use of Public Library, Standards for the Construction of Public
Library, Culture Reform and Development Program during the National 12th Five-Year Plan
Period, there were always the requirements as to establishing a system of public cultural service,
which offers universal and equal service to our people and safeguards the people’s basic cultural
rights and interests. In May 2007, the Ministry of Culture held a meeting in Tianjin to exchange
the experience on library extended services. Later, in the formulation of “Development Program of
Public Library during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period” and the research on the “Legislative Support
to the drafting of Public Library Law”, the Ministry of Culture specially set sub topics related to
the construction of central-branch library. The book, A Study on the Service Provider of Public
Libraries:The Choice in the Context of Full Coverage, (L.Z. Yu, Qiu, C.P. Li, & S.F. Wang, 2011)
was one of its achievements. Moreover, “central-branch library” was also included in the proposed
articles of Public Library Law.
As the leader in China’s librarianship, the LSC hosted many academic events relating with
the building of central-branch libraries. At the annual conference of 2007, People’s Library:The
Pattern Research of the Public Library Extending to the Grassroots Level (Qiu,2007), as the mid-
term result of the topic set at the New Year Summit, was chosen as the keynote report. Later, LSC
subsidized the publication of Public Library Service System Covering the Whole Society:Modes,
Technical Support and Solutions (Qiu, L.Z. Yu, &Xu, 2008), the first monograph studying public
library service system comprehensively. “The Building of Public Library Service System, Jiaxing