Page 78 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 43

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

Forum” was held in April 2008. By means of the grand program titled “Volunteers’ Action-
Training for the Grass-roots Library Directors”, which was held for five consecutive years, LSC
had publicized the service philosophy of public library and the ideas, techniques and methods of
central-branch library construction to nearly 3000 library directors. In this context, the research
fruits on central-branch library came up continuously.
Many experts and scholars, such as Li Guoxin (2010), Yu Liangzhi, Qiu Guanhua,and Xu
Xiaoxia (2008), Cheng Huanwen (2007) , Yu Ziniu(2008) , Li Donglai (2009) , Li Chaoping
(2009), Lin Lan (2007) , Xiao Hongling and Liu Hongyu (2007), Cheng Yanan (2010), Lin Liping
(2010) , Zhou Yingxiong (2011) , Qiu Guanhua (2009) , Wu Hongjun and Ni Xiaojian (2011), had
conducted research on the building of central-branch libraries. Their studies are no longer limited
to the introduction of cases. They also focus on defining the concept of central-branch libraries and
comparing and analyzing different patterns from the perspective of systematic building of central-
branch libraries, and searching for the methods and approaches for the construction and sustainable
development of central-branch libraries system from different perspectives.
For instance, Li Guoxin elaborates on the building of an environment suitable for the existence
and development of central-branch libraries system from the perspective of streamlining
administrative mechanisms and legislation of public libraries; Cheng Huanwen analyzed and
compared the different patterns in central-branch libraries system in Guangdong province.
Additionally, Yu Liangzhi, Yu Ziniu and Qiu Guanhua respectively analyzed and interpreted the
building of central-branch libraries system from the perspectives of public libraries’ mission and
choice of service provider, scientific planning for improving performance, as well as centralized
management, government purchase and funding support.
According to the research of Hu Jie and Shen Xiaojuan, the published research findings on
service system showed the trend of growth in this stage. Moreover, “in terms of research findings
properly designating the service provider of public library and establishing central-branch library
service system under certain pattern of service provider became crucial to realizing the targets
for the construction and governance of public libraries in China, namely, ‘offering universally
equitable library services covering the whole society’ ”. On this issue, consensus has been achieved
within the library circle (Hu & Shen, 2013).
Driven by the relevant policies and theoretical studies, the construction of central-branch library
made great progress in this stage. Several characteristics were manifested.
Firstly, central-branch library in different cities or counties began to show scale effect with the
increasing branch libraries. For instance, the number of the branch libraries of Suzhou’s central-
branch library rose from 4 at the end of 2006 to 26 at the end of 2010. It cultivated the residents’
habit of tusing libraries. The major service indicators, such as readers with library cards, onsite
library readers and the number borrowed books all improved significantly. The service benefits
of some community branch libraries even surpassed the average level of the county libraries,
which highlighted the qualities of low cost and high efficiency of central-branch libraries. It was