１９９６年夏季，一批留美学者应国内有关单位之邀，借参加’９６北京ＩＦＬＡ大会的机会，回国参观讲学。他们大都毕业于国内大学图书情报专业，目前有的在美国大学从事图书情报教育或图书馆工作，有的供职于商业性信息机构，不仅在国外学有所成，而且具有丰富的实际工作经验。他们怀着拳拳报国之心，主动提出利用假期自费回国举办讲习班，为国内图书馆事业的发展作一份贡献。这里，本刊编发留美学者的一组文章，其中有他们此次回国的概况和观感，也有他们对中国信息产业和网络建设的具体建议。留美学者以自己的亲见亲闻，坦诚地指出了当前国内图书情报事业存在的不足和与国际先进水平的巨大差距，对我国信息网络建设、图书馆事业的发展具有深刻的警示作用。他们提出的中肯意见为国内信息事业发展决策提供了难得的借鉴。我们把这组文章推荐给大家，就是为了推动图书馆事业的国际合作与交流，放开眼界，紧紧跟踪世界信息技术的发展前沿，让大家为我国图书馆事业的现代化献计献策，尽快缩短我国与发达国家的差距，使中国的图书情报事业早日跻身世界先进行列 In the summer of 1996, a group of scholars studying in the United States returned to China to give lectures by participating in the ’96 Beijing IFLA Conference at the invitation of relevant domestic units. Most of them are graduates of library and information science major in domestic universities. At present, some have engaged in library and information education or library work in American universities. Some of them work in commercial information agencies and have not only accomplished their studies abroad, but also have rich practical work experience. With their hearts punctuated by the spirit of punishing the country, they took the initiative to make use of holidays to hold workshops at their own expense and return home to make contributions to the development of the domestic library. Here, we compiled and published a series of articles about the American scholars, including their general situation and perception of returning to China. They also made concrete suggestions on the information industry and network construction in China. The scholars in the United States, with their own relatives and relatives, frankly and honestly pointed out the current lack of domestic library and information services and the huge gap with the international advanced level, and have a profound warning effect on the construction of our information network and the development of the library. The pertinent opinions they have provided provide a rare reference for the decision-making on the development of the domestic information industry. We recommend this set of articles to everyone in order to promote the international cooperation and exchange in the cause of the library and broaden our horizons. We will keep a close watch on the development of the world’s information technology and make everybody contribute to the modernization of the library industry in our country as soon as possible. The gap with developed countries has made China’s library and information industry one of the advanced countries in the world