A Historical Perspective: The Root Cause for the Underdevelopment of User Services in Chinese Academic Libraries

Liao, Jing

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2004.01.007

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The body of literature in English comparing the differences between service models at Chinese academic libraries and their American counterparts is limited, although several authors do address library service when discussing related topics. Liao (2004) gives the most in-depth treatment of the topic of the differences between service models at Chinese academic libraries and their American counterparts. She argues that traditional library culture in China is the root cause for the underdevelopment of user services in Chinese academic libraries.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring library service models at Fudan University and Appalachian State University: Experiences from an International Librarian Exchange program

Johnson

Shi

Shao

2010

The International Information & Library Review

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In 2008, Fudan University Library (FDUL) in Shanghai and Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, North Carolina created a three-year librarian exchange program. The first pair of librarian exchanges occurred during the 2009-2010 academic year, with the Appalachian State librarian traveling to Fudan for five weeks during the Fall of 2009, and the first librarian from Fudan traveling to Appalachian State for five months in the spring and summer of 2010. This paper documents how the first exchanges revealed interesting similarities and differences in the academic library service models between the two universities which are illustrative of general similarities and differences between Chinese and American academic library services. The paper also discusses how any academic library can benefit from the experience of a librarian exchange program with a partner library in another country. The experience gained from these first exchanges confirms on an international level the basic assertion that a major role of an academic library is to support the university's curriculum. Moreover it can be extrapolated from discussions held between librarians of the two institutions that in both the United States and China the curriculum evolves in response to reforms on campus and to changing trends within the country's education system. It was also determined that the modes of library services in both cultures change as new technologies arise and that the pace of technological change within academic libraries is rapid and ongoing. Participants in the exchange discovered that there are strengths and weaknesses in both the ASU and FDUL service models and that the librarians from both systems can learn from one another and absorb best practices from their exchange partners. This paper reflects the views and experiences of the exchange librarians (Shi and Johnson) and also author Shao, who is a Chinese national working as a faculty fellow librarian at Appalachian State University.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring library service models at Fudan University and Appalachian State University: Experiences from an International Librarian Exchange program

Johnson

Shi

Shao

2010

The International Information & Library Review

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“…Many previous studies concur that underdeveloped user services and a shortage of qualified librarians are longstanding problems in Chinese academic libraries (Liao, 2004;Shen, 2006;Xie & Sun, 2015). Liao (2004) examined the root cause for the underdevelopment of services for users in Chinese academic libraries from a historical perspective.…”

Section: Research On Chinese Academic Librariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liao (2004) examined the root cause for the underdevelopment of services for users in Chinese academic libraries from a historical perspective. The author argues that user services are still a low priority in academic libraries in China although collection development, space expansion and information technology adoption have significantly improved since 1979.…”

Section: Research On Chinese Academic Librariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chinese Academic Library Services: A Web Survey

Li¹

2016

IJoL

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Abstract:Chinese students form a significant population on Canadian university campuses. Literature indicates that these students face various challenges when using library services to meet their information needs. Canadian academic libraries need to better understand this group's previous library experiences in China to help them address these challenges. A survey was conducted on the main library websites of all thirty-nine Chinese universities of the Project 985, a project initiated by Chinese government to found world class universities in China. It reveals that certain services reported as challenges for Chinese students by previous studies, such as: interlibrary loan, document delivery, reference services, and library instructions are popular in Chinese academic libraries; however, subject services, data services, and some other services are not as well established compared to their counterparts in Canada. ABSTRACTChinese students form a significant population on Canadian university campuses. Literature indicates that these students face various challenges when using library services to meet their information needs. Canadian academic libraries need to better understand this group's previous library experiences in China to help them address these challenges. A survey was conducted on the main library websites of all thirty-nine Chinese universities of the Project 985, a project initiated by Chinese government to establish world class universities in China. It reveals that certain services reported as challenges for Chinese students by previous studies, such as: interlibrary loan, document delivery, reference services, and library instructions are popular in Chinese academic libraries; however, subject services, data services, and some other services are not as well established compared to their counterparts in Canada.

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Exploring Chinese Students' Perspective on Reference Services at Chinese Academic Libraries: A Case Study Approach

Xie

Sun²

2015

The Journal of Academic Librarianship

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A Historical Perspective: The Root Cause for the Underdevelopment of User Services in Chinese Academic Libraries

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

Exploring library service models at Fudan University and Appalachian State University: Experiences from an International Librarian Exchange program

Exploring library service models at Fudan University and Appalachian State University: Experiences from an International Librarian Exchange program

Chinese Academic Library Services: A Web Survey

Exploring Chinese Students' Perspective on Reference Services at Chinese Academic Libraries: A Case Study Approach

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