Page 60 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

XIAO Ximing & SHEN Ling / The historical development and contemporary construction 059
of the framework of fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics

serve as guidance for the overall planning and arrangement of librarianship from a national or
regional scale, thus promoting balanced and coordinated development. The fundamental theory
of library science needs to study the classification criteria of library types, the nature, function,
characteristics and tasks of different types of libraries. Public libraries, university libraries, as well
as science libraries and special libraries are considered as the three pillars of librarianship in China.
Today, in the process of building a moderately prosperous society and starting a new journey of
building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, an important topic that should be studied
in the fundamental theory of library science with Chinese characteristics in the new era is how
these three major types of libraries can play a greater role in the strategies of national rejuvenation
through cultural, educational, and scientific and technological advancement.
(4) The structure of the library system and its internal connection
The concept of library system structure is put forward by the application of system theory in the
field of library science research. The system has hierarchical features, and the library system also
differs at macro and micro levels. The library system at the macro level is composed of libraries
of various types, levels and scales. The library system at the micro level is actually a library work
system, which is a process composed of different stages of work at the library. The fundamental
theory of library science does not study the specific operation of each component in the library
system, but uses the principles and methods of the system theory to study ways to improve the
structure of the library system, to foster the connection and coordination between the various
parts of the system, as well as the whole and the parts of the system, to optimize the function of
the library system, and to form a benign interaction between the library system and the social
environment, etc.
(5) The evolution of library development patterns
The development of libraries in China has experienced a transformation from ancient to modern
and contemporary stage, and this transformation is far from an end. Since the 1990s, with the
rapid development of information technology and the drastic changes in the social environment,
the library has shifted from the “book-centered” traditional library to the “service-oriented” digital
library and hybrid library. Today, “a new generation of knowledge and technology will drive
the different areas of the library sector to embrace diversification, user experience, and service
intelligence, and ultimately realize the transformation from digital and hybrid libraries to smart
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services and smart libraries” . The fundamental theory of library science should study the internal
and external driving forces of library transformation, the goal and realization path of library
transformation, and the possible risks and risk aversion in library transformation. In the historical
context of the new era, it is also imperative to study how we integrate the new development vision
of “innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development” into the practice of library
transformation.
(6) Information technology and the development of libraries
Technology is the most direct driving force for library development. Since the 1990s, the