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022 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.10, 2018

1 Defining the notion of the public library with Chinese characteristics

What is the public library? The definitions of the public library are varied from the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), international public library
legislations to textbooks of library science. The popular definition is that the public library should
embody three elements: open to all; expenditure from tax revenue; establishment and operation
based on the law (Encyclopedia of China editorial board, 2009). For the first time the PLL defines
the notion of public library which not only reflects the internationally accepted law, but also
endows with Chinese characteristics (Article II). In terms of reflecting the internationally accepted
law, the PLL adheres to the principle of open access to all, and stipulates that the core tasks of the
public library are to collect, organize and preserve information and to provide services of inquiry
and lending. In terms of Chinese characteristics, one of the outstanding features is free admission
which guarantees the rights of the public in fundamental reading and proves people to be the center
in public library services. The second feature is emphasizing the functions of social education
which expands public library services and strengthens public libraries’ functions of enhancing
literacy of the public by means of social education of multiple forms. The public library is no
longer the place to borrow and return books in traditional sense. The third feature is identifying the
public library as public cultural facilities, which is closely related to the Public Cultural Service
Security Law of the People’s Republic of China. In nature it makes clear that the government is
responsible for the planning, building, operation, services, management and safeguard. The fourth
feature is not to restrict the main body. The government is responsible for establishing public
libraries, and encourages citizens, legal persons and other organizations to establish public libraries
with self-raised funds and policy support from the government, which points out a new way to
advance the public librarianship by the government, market and society.
In general, the definition of the public library by the PLL clarifies basic natures, main functions
and free admission, which provides basic guidelines for a better understanding of the public library,
and for governments at various levels in establishing and properly managing the public libraries.

2 Guiding the development of public librarianship

Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era means the continuous development of
socialist road, theories, systems and culture with Chinese characteristics, the progress of the
“five-pronged approach to building socialism with Chinese characteristics” and “four-pronged
comprehensive strategy”, all-round development of human being and all-round social progress.
The PLL prescribes that the purpose of legislation is to inherit human civilization, guarantee
the citizens’ basic cultural rights and elevate scientific and cultural literacy as well as social
civilization (Article 1). It also clarifies that the public library is a significant constituent part of
the public cultural service system and its basic functions are to inherit the outstanding traditional