How to Keep Sustainable Development of Central-Branch Library System from its Beginning in China -- Take Tianjin as an Example

How to Keep Sustainable Development of Central-Branch Library System from its Beginning in China -- Take Tianjin as an Example

This poster explores the construction plan of the central-branch library system in Tianjin. The author uses in-depth interview, focus group interview, questionnaire and case study methods to get to know the present situation, problems and expectations of the central-branch system construction in Tianjin. Based on the analysis, it is found that: (1) Most of the public libraries were isolated from each other and only four out of sixteen districts have explored central-branch library system to the various extent. (2) The main propelling forces can be summarized as the attention of district government and its policy and financial support, the pressure of external evaluation, library spontaneous pursuit of self-development. (3) Present problems include deficiency of understanding of the central-branch library system, lack of collaboration between district government and county/town government, unstable policy and financial supports, an unclear operation system, and an incomplete evaluation mechanism. (4) Librarians expect fuller and more stable policies and financial support, better collaboration relationship between district and county/town government, increase of workers and more investment in human resources, a more effective operation system, and an assessment mechanism developed on the normalized basis.
In conclusion, the author brings forward her thoughts about the central-branch library system: (1) At present, it is difficult to construct the same central-branch system as that in western countries, so government at different levels should devote to the system construction and collaborate with each other. In Tianjin as well as in most provinces of China, in accordance with three-tier administrative division hierarchy system, the most suitable model for the central-branch system is a three-tier system. (2) To keep the sustainable development of central-branch library system, it would be better to take all present situation, problems and expectations into consideration at the beginning of design, and keep a close eye to its implementation and make some adjustments accordingly. Our procedure and methods of making construction plan will be helpful to other regions.

Xiao, Xue

Chinese American Librarians Association

2018-06-24

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

application/pdf

eng

Presentation files; Text

Xiao, Xue (2018). How to keep sustainable development of central-branch library system from its beginning in China -- take Tianjin as an example. The Chinese American Librarian Association (CALA) Annual Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA, June 24, 2018.