American Contributions to Modern Library Development in China: A Historic Review

Attempts to modernize Chinese libraries to serve the public and to support educational endeavours began in the late Nineteenth century with considerable American participation. Individual American librarians (especially Mary Elizabeth Wood), libraries, library science schools, the American Library Association, government and the Library of Congress and others made significant contributions to modern library development in China. Reviews these by historical era, ie: Pre Republican China; the Rapid Modernization Movement; the Sino Japanese and Civil Wars (1937-1949); founding of the People's Republic of China to the end of the Cultural Revolution; developments in Taiwan; and the new era of library development after 1976. Cooperation is again bringing together Chinese and American librarians to the benefit of both nations.