Page 26 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 44

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LI Guoxin / The historical contributions of the Public Library Law of the People’s Republic of China 025

in grass-root public libraries. In the standard, the minimum collection was 50,000 books; new
books in recent five years accounted 80%; annual replacement rate was no lower than 1/8-1/7;
building was no smaller than 800 square meters; the number of staff was no less than 3 (The
Library Association of Japan, Special Committee of Library Policy, 2009). All of the above are
basic requirements for public libraries to perform its functions. For a long time, there was no clear
description of requirements for public libraries in China so that some grass-root public libraries
lack the abilities to fulfill their services. For the first time the PLL makes the breakthrough to
specify basic requirements for public libraries.
The six requirements in the PLL are: Rules; building; building area, seats, resources and
equipment matching its functions; number of staff matching its functions and size; necessary
funds and stable fund sources; and security assurance facilities, system and contingency plan
(Article 15). Based on establishing and perfecting corporate governance structure, the requirement
of rules indicates that public libraries should establish modern governance structure and methods.
This is a new requirement for modern public libraries. The PLL prescribes general requirements
on addresses and built-up areas of buildings, seats, resources, equipment and funds. The specific
quantitative index can be found in the Norm of Construction Land for Public Libraries(Building
Standards [2008] No.74), Standards of Building of Public Libraries (Building Standards 108-
2008) and public library assessment standards. Setting up and legalizing the requirements for
public libraries demonstrates the advance in understanding of how public libraries can perform
their functions, which is in line with the well-off society in an all-round way and people’s ever-
growing needs for a better life and will has a positive effect on the development of public
libraries.

4.3 Expenditure and staff

In the General Provisions of the PLL, the responsibility of the government’s support in expenditure
is prescribed: the government at or above the county level should increase input in public libraries
established by the government, incorporate expenditure into financial budget and appropriate
expenditure in time and in full amount (Article 4). Increases, in time and in full amount are the
key words. What is the standard of increases? It can be specified by the Public Cultural Service
Guarantee Law of the People’s Republic of China. According to the law, funds allocation in
public cultural services by the government is based on responsibilities and expenditure (Public
Cultural Service Guarantee Law of the People’s Republic of China, 2017). The responsibilities are
listed, publicized and legalized through standards or directories of basic public cultural services.
Expenditure is measured by responsibilities, which are the basic standard of expenditure guarantee.
In time emphasizes the timeliness of expenditure, aiming at the delay of budgetary resources
in the grass root. In full amount means complete budgetary resources which cover all respects
of public library services preventing from unsound programs. Also, in full amount requires that