The role and development of libraries and the library profession in contemporary People's Republic of China.

摘要

This thesis attempts to analyze the library system and library education in the People's Republic of China through reconstructing their historical development. Since the Chinese Communists took over the mainland in 1949, they have made all-out efforts toward the development of libraries and extension of library facilities. As a result, there has been more development of libraries after 1949 than during previous historical periods.;However, the Chinese Communists confined the new library system within a very narrow set of political goals as a tool of state machinery. While the expansion of the system was unprecedented, its suppression of political or intellectual freedom was also unprecedented. The same can be said for library education.;The Chinese political and economic reforms initiated in late 1978 have changed the roles of library and information services enormously. Libraries and information centers are playing an important part in the modernization drive. The application of modern technology in the libraries has created a great demand for well-trained and qualified librarians and information specialists. Library education programs have greatly expanded in the last decade. Nonetheless, with all this transformation, what remains basically intact is the subordination of the library system and library education to the political interests of the government.