Page 50 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

XIAO Ximing & SHEN Ling / The historical development and contemporary construction 049
of the framework of fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics

“two centenary goals”. The first centenary goal is to achieve decisive success in the final stage
of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th
CPC Central Committee also put forward the long-range objectives for China to basically achieve
socialist modernization by 2035. In this long-range objectives, major development strategies
on science and technology, education, culture, reading promotion, digital China, cultural soft
power, are all closely related to librarianship. The fundamental theory of library science should
provide strong theoretical support for the application and practice of library science to serve the
major development strategies of the country and the major needs of society. Thirdly, since the
fundamental theory of library science also concerns the library system of the state, it must be
consistent with the mainstream ideology of the country and society, and follow the current national
legal system and policies.
(3) Discourse system
Discourse system is the external expression form of ideological theory system and knowledge
system. Theoretical or academic ideas of any discipline, as well as the concepts and categories,
ideas and methods of any discipline, need to be expressed in a certain form of discourse. Such a set
[26]
of “combination of elements for expression and exchange of ideas among discourse subjects”
is discourse system. The discourse system derives the discourse power, and the discourse power
is related to the influence and status of the discipline. Therefore, the basic theoretical system of
library science with Chinese characteristics should focus on building its own discourse system.
The soul of discourse is thought. Without the effective input of new ideas, new theories, and new
viewpoints, there will be no construction of a discourse system. Therefore, with the development
of the times, the fundamental theoretical research of library science should constantly put forward
new conceptual categories, new theoretical propositions, and new theoretical judgments. In recent
years, from “free access to public library” to “library rights”, “library spirit”, “library core values”,
“public library as an institutional arrangement to ensure information fairness”, “public library
service system covering the whole society”, “universal equality, beneficial for all”, are all basic
theoretical discourses of library science with Chinese characteristics.
(4) Research methods
Research methods can be categorized from different dimensions. Different levels and types of
research methods are not only universal but also have their own functions in different application
scenarios, reflecting their own characteristics. In the early stage of Chinese library science
research, qualitative analysis methods were mainly used, such as rational thinking method, case
analysis method, historical research method, and comparative research method. Along with the
advancement in research, quantitative research methods and a combination of qualitative and
quantitative studies also become popularized, such as survey research method, statistical analysis
method, mathematical method, citation analysis method. With the development of modern
information technology, there emerge more research methods, including model display method,
data mining method, simulation research method, evaluation research method, quantitative analysis