Abstract: Public library in China had adopted a multi-layer management mechanism with government on each level controlling one library. It was not until the year 2000 that the central-branch library system started to be constructed. After some success was achieved, the library association began to promote and popularize the central-branch model. With the guidance of corresponding national policy, the central-branch library system has been rapidly and widely developed, and has grown into three modes: the loose mode of “funding from diverse sources & coordinated management”, the intensive mode of “multiple funding from governments on each level & centralized management” and the unified mode of “funding from one single source & unified management”. Looking into the future, the central-branch library system will be further advanced and improved in terms of public reading resource integration, mobile service construction, rural branch management, central-branch development for children’s library, and government sponsorship.

Key words: Chinese librarianship, Central-branch library system, Public library service system