Page 171 - Journal of Library Science in China 2020 Vol.46

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170 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.12, 2020

The future trend of library history research in China

〇a*
GU Yeqing〇
The study of library history is an indispensable part of library science research, which has the
value of exploring the internal logic and historical law of the development of librarianship and
library science. After entering the 21st century, the number of articles on library history research
in China has entered a period of rapid growth, especially in the past decade. This paper points
out the direction and measures to be improved in the study of library history in China. First, we
should establish a great conception of history and promote the systematization and ideological
content of research. Under the guidance of the grand conception of history and guided by the
consciousness of problems, library historians can have a unique insight to examine the logical
changes of history and explore the laws from the perspective of connection and development by
examining and debating small and numerous historical materials. Second, the research methods
are based on literature interpretation, assisted by a variety of other methods. It is necessary to
clarify the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative research, digital humanities, oral history
and other methods according to specific research objects, research purposes and the actual
situation of historical materials and make flexible use in practice. Third, we should expand the
sources of historical materials, including tapping the potential of direct sources of historical
materials and exploring indirect sources of historical materials, strengthen the preservation and
utilization of physical historical materials, audio visual historical materials and modern new
carrier digital historical materials, promote the compilation and utilization of archival historical
materials, etc., and pay attention to the academic norms for the utilization of historical materials.
Fourth, a reasonable talent team and evaluation mechanism of research achievements should be
set up. The library history research team needs to absorb genuine aspirants who are driven by
interest, possess certain historical research accomplishments and master systematic knowledge of
library science. Independent writing should be encouraged. We should improve the mechanism
of achievement evaluation, expanding the types of award-winning achievements and taking the
quality of papers as the criterion of evaluation. Fifth, research results should be paid attention to
all-round dissemination. Efforts should be made to establish research journals on library history
in China to strengthen the dissemination and popularization among the public both abroad and
outside the academic circles of libraries, and new media should be made full use for publicity.
In the future, nine major specific research fields can be deepened and expanded: 1) Paying
attention to the principles of library history studies and to the research on the history of library
history; 2) Carrying out a comprehensive study on the history of library science terms, concepts
and ideas; 3) Increasing the research on the dimension of library science system history and
library social history; 4) Highlighting the research of reading history with library characteristics;

* Correspondence should be addressed to GU Yeqing, Email: guyeqing@jiangnan.edu.cn, ORCID: 0000-0002-0828-1092.