Postgraduate education is a kind of high-level school education that takes on the mission of developing advanced professionals in the field. On the basis of policy research,questionnaire survey,interviews and field observation,this paper sums up the history and development trend of Library and Information Science postgraduate education in China. The authors divide the history of Library and Information Science degree authorization into four decades:the first decade (1981-1990):Master Program of Library Science in Peking University and Wuhan University were established with the approval of the Ministry of Education in 1981,ushering in the graduate education for Library Sciencein China; the second decade (1991-2000):the first authorization of Doctoral Program of Library Science and the first authorization of Doctoral Program for Information Science were established in Peking University and Wuhan University respectively with the approval of the State Council Academic Degree Committee in November 1990,representing the transformation of Library and Information Science education to high-level academic education; the third decade (2001-2010):Peking University and Wuhan University were approved as two programs for doctor degree of first-level discipline (the discipline of “Library,Information and Archives Management”)by the State Council Academic Degree Committee in 2000; the forth decade (2011-2020):The Establishment Conference of National Education Steering Committee for Finance and Other Professional Degrees was held in Beijing in 2011. During the conference,it was approved to set up the professional degree of Master of Library and Information Science,marking the beginning of MLIS degree education. The authors believe that the development of library undertaking and the professionalization of information service,the teaching content reform of library and information,the career development of library and information and innovations of library and information services are internal forces to drive the transformation of the authorization of degrees of Library and Information Science. The transformation of Library and Information Science Education should further maintain the values of Library Science education,adapt to a new information environment,and cultivate world-class talents of library and information with Chinese characteristics in the future. Furthermore,we should promote the coordinated development of academic degree education and professional degree education,strengthen the authorization of professional degrees of Library and Information Science and vigorously improve the practical innovative ability of graduates. 39 refs.