Page 41 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

040 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.13, 2021

The historical development and contemporary

construction of the framework of fundamental theory
of library science with Chinese characteristics

XIAO Ximing & SHEN Ling 〇a ∗

School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Abstract
The indigenization of the fundamental theory of library science in China has gone through three stages:
1909-1949, 1949-1978, 1978-. In spite of the fruitful achievements, particularly over the past 40
years, it remains an arduous task to build a framework of fundamental theory of library science with
Chinese characteristics. The features of this framework are mainly reflected in cultural origin, national
conditions, discourse system, and methodological system. Moreover, the core values of this framework
are manifested in terms of problem-oriented approach, paradigm awareness, method awareness, and
vision awareness. The framework of fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics
should be composed of four parts: library science metatheory, library development theory, library
governance theory, and library profession theory. As an open and growing system that keeps up with the
times, this theoretical framework will play a critical role in leading and supporting the development of
China’s librarianship.

Keywords
Library science, Fundamental theory, Theoretical framework, Chinese characteristics, Historical
development, Contemporary construction.

The fundamental theory of library science is an integral part of the theoretical system of library
science. It mainly explains the fundamental knowledge and principles of library and library science
from a macro perspective and reveals the essence and law of the subject. The theory not only plays
a guiding role as the common basis for the branch subjects of library science but also serves as a
[1]1
bridge in connecting and penetrating different branch subjects .
The late 19th and early 20th century saw the dissemination of Western learning to the East.
The concepts of library and library science in the modern sense were introduced to China from
the West (including from Japan which embraces Western learning earlier than China) during this
period. Therefore, these two concepts should be classified as “imported products”. Similar to other
foreign cultures, it requires an indigenization process for library science to take root and bear
fruit in China. The predecessors of Chinese academic circle have a clear vision on this issue. In
1925, LIANG Qichao proposed in his speech at the inaugural conference of Library Association

*Correspondence should be addressed to SHEN Ling, Email: shenling@whu.edu.cn, ORCID: 0000-0002-8911-9192.