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the query to search in five international journals in the field of library science, that is, Journal
of Academic Librarianship, Library Trends, Journal of Documentation, Information Research:
An International Electronic Journal, and Library & Information Science Research. We also
use a Chinese query to search relevant articles in top nine Chinese library science journals,
that is, Journal of Library Science in China, Library & Information, Document, Information
& Knowledge, Library and Information Service, Library Tribune, Library Journal, Library
Development, Journal of the National Library of China, and Journal of Academic Libraries. We
totally obtain 1,143 articles in English and 2,111 in Chinese. Content analysis method is used
to analyze terms, theories, and theoretical models used in these articles. Based on these terms,
theories and models, we can examine and summarize the fundamental issues in the theoretical
research of library science in the past decade. Particularly, we also explore the general issues at
home and abroad, as well as Chinese original issues to deeply reveal the Chinese contribution to
the development of library science theory and strengthen the public’s understanding of the value
of theoretical research.
Results show that fundamental issues in the theoretical research of library science are the one
that support the research and have a guiding role in the practice of library science. There are four
fundamental issues concerned at home and abroad：1) Rethinking of concepts related to library
and library science, 2) historical development of library and library science, 3) humanized and
intelligent information services, and 4) the future development of the library careers. Meanwhile,
there are three special fundamental issues in China：1) The issues of equalization of library
services, 2) the formulation and implementation of library law in China, and 3) the development
of library science education in China. These fundamental issues in the theoretical research of
library science in the past decade can be summarized by five “W-How”, that is, What-How, Why-
How, Who-How, Where-How, and When-How. Based on our analysis, we find four research
trends of fundamental issues in theoretical research of library science：1) Problems of information
organization, association and management in the era of big data, 2) problems of intelligent and
equalization services, 3) problems in the construction and promotion of library-related laws and
systems, and 4) library science education in the new era.

Challenge and response: The trends of academic libraries in China
〇a*
CHENG Huanwen〇 & LIU Jiaqin
With the development of the society and economy of China, the higher education in China faces
the great opportunities of the Chinese Dream, the Double First-Class University Initiative, and
the New Era. Because of the innovative financial policy for the Double First-Class University

* Correspondence should be addressed to CHENG Huanwen, Email: huanwen@mail.sysu.edu.cn, ORCID: 0000-0003-0703-1187.