Page 54 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

XIAO Ximing & SHEN Ling / The historical development and contemporary construction 053
of the framework of fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics

Figure 1. The structure of fundamental theoretical system of library science with Chinese characteristics
(1) The concept and essence of the library
Concept is a basic form of thinking, reflecting the general and essential characteristics of
objective things. For a long time, people have accepted the definition of a library as “a scientific,
cultural and educational institution that collects, organizes and preserves documents and provides
[32]
access for readers” . However, in a digital and networked environment, does a library have to
be such an “institution”? Some scholars believe that a library can be a “social institution” or a
“service” ; others consider that a library is a “physical place or information space or a complex
[33]