Abstract:

[Purpose/Significance] During the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the need to establish mechanisms that facilitate the direct delivery of high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots level was emphasized. This goal closely corresponds with the mission of public libraries. With the advancement of Chinese public cultural service system, public libraries have strengthened their facility networks and expanded service coverage. However, significant challenges remain, including the urban-rural disparity in cultural resources, mismatches between service supply and demand, and differences in the needs of diverse user groups. The paper addresses this research gap by reviewing innovative domestic practices, identifying their core characteristics, and clarifying pathways for mechanism development. In this way, it not only enriches the theoretical framework of Chinese public cultural service development but also provides targeted practical guidance for public libraries seeking to overcome urban-rural barriers, optimize resource allocation, and enhance grassroots access to high-quality services. The study therefore holds important theoretical and practical value for promoting the equalized, precise, and inclusive development of public cultural services and for advancing the construction of a nation of avid readers. [Method/Process] The study examines representative innovative practices from public libraries across China that promote the direct delivery of high-quality services to the grassroots level, focusing on five key dimensions: space, resources, services, activities, and professionals. Through comparative analysis, the study distills the core characteristics of these practices with respect to service goals, organizational models, implementation strategies, reform orientations, technological support, and sustainability mechanisms. Building on the analysis, it identifies priority areas for advancement and proposes targeted pathways for optimizing delivery mechanisms. [Results/Conclusions] This study found that the practice of public libraries in China in delivering high-quality services directly to grassroots level has developed a distinctive pathway characterized by six interrelated features. Firstly, it prioritizes the precise fulfillment of the diverse reading needs of different age groups and population groups as the core objective. Secondly, it relies on the central-branch library system as the organizational foundation. Thirdly, it adopts the provision of all-region and all-time reading services as the principal implementation approach. Fourthly, it regards fostering the public's intrinsic motivation for reading as an important reform orientation. Fifthly, it leverages technological innovation as a key driver for improving service efficiency. Finally, it develops reading service brands as a sustainable driving force for long-term development. To promote the sustainable and standardized development of this service model, public libraries need to establish a systematic mechanism framework across five key dimensions. Firstly, strengthening vertically integrated organizational support. Secondly, ensuring precise alignment between service supply and user demand. Thirdly, promoting comprehensive and coordinated resource supply. Fourthly, advancing multi-dimensional talent cultivation and support. Finally, establishing standardized assessment, evaluation, and long-term guarantee mechanisms.

Key words: delivering high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots level, a nation of avid readers, national reading, public cultural service