Page 73 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.45, 2019

072 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.11, 2019

important to all information professionals from librarians, archivists and museum managers to
information architects, web developers and data administrators.” (University of Illinois, School of
Information Sciences, 2020b). Graduates with the master degree work in “libraries of all types and
other institutions including counseling firms, library suppliers and technology firms” (University
of Illinois, School of Information Sciences, 2020b). It is obvious that the library is still one of the
employment options although the name of the school has changed. The school extends with the
core of the library science as the basis instead of abandoning the traditional and starting a brand-
new one. Over ten years ago, the author suggested in one article that the iSchools appearing in
the United States at that time seemed to “get rid of libraries”, but actually “return to the ‘human-
centered’ in traditional LIS” (Ye, 2007). Education of the library science “should be ‘adherence
and extension’. Adherence means enhancing existent advantaged education of the library science
rather than weakening. Extension means extending traditional education to related fields,
especially emerging, cross-discipline and inter-discipline fields” (Ye & C.M. Chen, 2007). In view
of LIS practice in the recent decade, the opinion makes sense and accords with the international
development trend. As the core knowledge of the library science combined with new technologies
are promoted in the information field and more research results are approved by the academic
circle and society, the status of the library science will be upgraded. Hence any opinion that
underestimates the importance of the library science is untenable.
Of course, the rapid development of new technologies and the development of libraries and
related institutions pose new challenges for education and research of library science. Not only
courses such as the information resource construction, information organization and retrieval,
reference, user study, reading promotion and information utilization should be underlined,
but also courses such as application of new technologies, information system and scientific
data management should be added. Moreover, extension based on core courses should be
encouraged. Compulsory courses should be refined, core courses should be strengthened
and optional courses should be added. In such a case, standard education and personalized
education can be integrated.
For a long time research of the library science in China mainly followed the advanced countries,
and conducted follow-up research, most of which was applied research and original research was
few. Early researchers of the library science such as Du Dingyou, Li Xiaoyuan and Liu Guojun
did some innovations considering Chinese circumstances besides introduction. In addition, some
scholars have made solid scholarly innovations by hard working and thorough reflections in a
certain field or research orientation for recent decades. For example, Professor Zhang Qiyu set
forth creatively the concept of “information retrieval language” based on years’ experience in
practice and studies. He consolidated classification language, subject language and keyword
language, which won a favorable reception. Some scholars consider the information retrieval
language and its system an original achievement with international influence. In the new era, the
study of the library science should be rooted in practice of the library and informatization. By