Comparative Research On Digital Reference Service Between China’s Public Libraries And America’s Public Libraries

Public library plays an important role in the information-based society. Meanwhile,digitalization, intellectialization and knowledgeabalization become the main trend of thedevelopment of public libraries. Although the Digital Reference Service (DRS) has beenwidely provided in public libraries, the effective implement and maintaining of the DRSstill remain as a challenge due to growing demand and intense competition among libraries.Through internet survey, this paper investigated the current condition of the DRS in severalChinese and American public libraries and provided solutions to improve the digitalreference services in Chinese public libraries.Firstly, the paper investigated the implement of the DRS, service objects and servicecontent to get a comprehensive picture of the development and the current situation of theDRS in the two countries in present stage.Secondly, the paper did thorough analysis and comparison among the public librariesin the two countries from three aspects: provided services, functions, and management. Bydoing so, this study helps to find the weakness of the digital reference services in Chinesepublic libraries.Finally, the paper provided solutions targeting on the weakness of the DRS in Chinesepublic libraries. Moreover, it designed an advanced plan for Chinese public libraries andmodified the service process to improve the services. We hope that this study could shed alight on the development of the DRS in Chinese public libraries.