Page 48 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

XIAO Ximing & SHEN Ling / The historical development and contemporary construction 047
of the framework of fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics

discussions. These research topics range from the spirit of library community, library system,
public library service system covering the entire society, general-branch library system, to modern
library concepts such as universal and equal benefit to all, information fairness, and free services,
as well as the theoretical system of reading promotion. These studies and discussions are not only
in line with the international advanced library science theories and concepts but also based on the
practical conditions of Chinese librarianship, thus offering theoretical support to formulate and
improve national librarianship policy and even public cultural policy. This demonstrates that the
research of fundamental theory of library science is capable of serving major national development
strategy, and epitomizes the Chinese characteristics of fundamental theory of library science in the
new era.
Library science in the modern sense has been developing in China for over a century, and this
century is also a century of unremitting exploration by Chinese librarians to “build China’s library
science”. Compared with the many other applied fields of library science, the localization of the
fundamental theory of library science seems to be more difficult and complex. In the past 20
years, the fundamental theory of library science in China has changed its research paradigm from
“discipline-based” to “problem-based”, and achieved many important theoretical outcomes with
Chinese characteristics. However, it remains a challenging issue as to how to build a fundamental
theoretical system of library science with Chinese characteristics, and incorporate various new
theoretical achievements into this system, so that it can bring tangible benefits in leading and
supporting Chinese librarianship.

2 Basic features and philosophy of the fundamental theory system of library
science with Chinese characteristics

2.1 Basic features of the fundamental theory system of library science with Chinese
characteristics

It is undeniable that in the fundamental theory of library science, many concepts, theories related
to the discipline origin have no distinction in nationality and ethnicity. However, since the
fundamental theory of library science focuses on the development of librarianship and the issues in
the application and practice of library science, it is impossible to ignore distinction in nationality
and ethnicity, because both the field of research and research issues are closely linked to the history
and culture of each country. The fundamental theoretical system of library science with Chinese
characteristics should have the following four basic features.
(1) Cultural origins
The fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics shall be imbued with
traditional Chinese culture and academic wisdom. The people-oriented mindset has long been part
of the traditional Chinese culture. For example, in Guanzi·Bayan, which records the thoughts and