From April 19 to April 21, the New Era Library Science Education Seminar and the National Library Science Doctoral Students Forum were successfully held at Wuhan University, which hosted by Wuhan University, and co-organized by the Higher Education Library Science Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education and the Library Science Education Committee of the Library Society of China. The theme of the conference was “The Transformation and Development of Library Science in the New Era: Openness, Integration, and Intelligence”. More than 300 people attended the conference, including 57 research institutes, 18 book-related institutions, and 10 journals and magazines institutions.

Dou Xiankang, President of Wuhan University  , delivered a speech: "The development of current era is characterized by 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'Big Data', which profoundly affects the long-term development of Library Science and library construction. In the new era, Library Science faces with many opportunities and challenges, we should not forget our original intentions, instead, we should return to the original impulsion, look to the future, and keep our integrity and innovation." Dou Xiankang called upon library scholars to face unprecedented opportunities and challenges, explore actively the future development of China's Library Science, and write a new chapter in the development of library science.

The transformation and development of Library Science in the new era has caused heated discussion among many experts. Professor Feng Huiling, former vice president of Renmin University of China, Professor Ma Feicheng, Dean of Big Data Research Institute and Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, Professor Zhang Jiuzhen, Secretary of the Party Committee of Department of Information Management at Peking University, Professor Chen Chuanfu, deputy director of the National Library and Information Science Masters Teaching Steering Committee and Dean of Graduate School at Wuhan University, Professor Fang Qing, Vice President of Library Society of China and Dean of School of Information Management at Wuhan University expressed their point of view on Library Science in the Big Data and AI era, respectively.

During the conference, Professor Zeng Jianxun, Director of Information Resource Center, Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, Professor Xia Lixin, Vice President of Central China Normal University, Professor Li Guangjian, Director of Department of Information Management of Peking University, Professor Wang Meiling, Institute of Library Information and Archival Science, National Chengchi University, Professor Huang Ruhua, Associate Dean of School of Information Management at Wuhan University, Professor Li Yuelin, Associate Dean of Business School of NanKai University, Professor Chu Jingli, Director of Department of Library Information and Archival Management at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Zheng Jianming at School of Information Management of Nanjing University and Professor Xiao Ximing at School of Information Management at Wuhan University made wonderful speeches. Professor Feng Huiling, first-level professor at Renmin University of China, was invited to give an academic lecture on Luojia Lecture, the title was "Digital Memory: Memory Scenery in the Digital Era". The editors of "Journal of Library Science in China", "Library and Information Service", "Documentation, Information & Knowledge" and other important journals share their experience in the "face-to-face" session.

At the same time, more than 30 professors from Wuhan University, Peking University, Nankai University, Nanjing University, Sun Yat-sen University and other Library education institutions and organizations held a special seminar on the development of Library Science education in the new era, focusing on the theme of “Challenges, Opportunities and Actions of Library Science Education”, and the “New Era Library Science Education Action Initiative” was jointly drafted to promote the development of Library Science education across the country.

The Doctoral Students Forum was successfully held during the conference and was divided into 11 sub-forums such as library services, data management, information behavior, information policy and law, librarianship, and reading promotion. The forum received a total of 145 submissions, and the review committee conducted a rigorous review of 94 papers. 20 award-winning papers were selected for awards at the closing ceremony. Some excellent papers will be recommended for publication in relevant academic journals.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Huang Ruhua, Associate Dean of School of Information Management, announced the award-winning papers and accepted papers of the forum. Professor Si Li from School of Information Management at Wuhan University, on behalf of domestic university Library education professionals, read the “New Era Library Science Education Action Initiative” and launched an initiative to all Library education colleagues, calling on the Library Science education to face the new opportunities and challenges, actively advancing from the aspects of education content, education themes, education models, international exchanges to jointly promote the prosperity and development of Library Science education. Professor Lu Wei, Associate Dean of School of Information Management at Wuhan University, delivered the conclusion speech. The First New Era Library Science Education Seminar and the National Library Science Doctoral Students Forum were successfully concluded and completed.

  Contributed by: Ran Congjing and He Mengting

Photography by: Fu Ling