[Purpose/significance] By discussing professor Meng Liansheng’s academic thoughts and practical course, we can understand the development of libraryship to some extent, and provide experience and reference for future exploration and progress. [Method/process] The article applied content analysis, bibliometrics and interview methods to collect, sort out and analyze various types of materials and data to form research conclusions. [Result/conclusion] Professor Meng has the courage of academic exploration, pursuit of practical innovation, and has opened a precedent for the research and construction of Chinese Citation Database. It has made great achievements in the essential relationship between scientific research and information science, the development of literature and information industry, the construction of scientific and technological information resources, information retrieval of scientific and technological literature, and the theory and practice of digital library in China. Professor Meng’s rigorous academic research, accumulation of knowledge, seeking truth from facts and excellence in the spirit of "refining the characters" is admirable. And his teaching style of "moisturizing things silently" is admired by all his students.

[Purpose/significance] This paper reviews and summarizes Professor Meng Liansheng’s contributions in the research of bibliometrics theory and method, data system construction, practical research, international academic exchanges and personnel training, and shows Professor Meng Liansheng’s spirit of seeking, pioneering and rigorous scholarship under arduous conditions. [Method/process] Using the method of literature research and combining with the interviews of characters, this paper studied the research from the research process, research results, significance and influence of Professor Meng Liansheng. [Result/conclusion] His innovative research has promoted the development of bibliometrics research and application in China and expanded China’s international influence in this field. By leading the creation of CSCD and DISC databases, the application of bibliometrics methods in scientific and technological literature retrieval, scientific journal evaluation and scientific activity evaluation has been promoted, which are important signs and achievements of the development of Chinese bibliometrics.

[Purpose/significance] This paper reviews Mr. Meng Liansheng’s research achievements in resource construction and literature information retrieval, and reviews his practical experience in this field to show the striving and exploring spirit of the older generation of library and information scholars. [Method/process] Studying the research results and working manuscripts of Mr. Meng Liansheng by applying the method of literature research and interviews, the summary was made from two aspects of information resource construction and information resource retrieval. [Result/conclusion] Mr. Meng Liansheng studies library and information science from a wide range of sources. He has not only rich theoretical research results, but also rich practical experience in the database construction of Chinese Academy of Sciences and NSTL, which has realized the integration of theory and practice. He explores the characteristics of information retrieval and the way of digital resources service, which richens the theoretical research and practical system of resource construction and information retrieval.

[Purpose/significance] Taking Mr. Meng Liansheng as a case, this paper explores his library and information professional practice, related research and academic influence since the end of 1970s. The purpose is to review the development of modern librarianship in China, and comprehend the core elements of library development. [Method/process] Literature content analysis combining with Mr. Meng’s self-reported materials were used to sort out the practice and research achievements of Mr. Meng’s library and information work. A bibliometric method was used to analyze Mr. Meng’s academic influence. [Result/conclusion] He is honest with himself, his practice and research in citation analysis, information resource construction, information service, digital library construction and the construction of the National Science and Technology Library complement each other. His academic influence stems mainly from his problem-oriented practical research and thinking. The professional practice and the related discourse on library and information work by Mr. Meng reflect the six elements throughout the development of library and information work: information resource, technology, management, service, scientific research and qualified personnel. Information resource is the root. Qualified personnel is the foundation. Technology improves the efficiency. Service builds the library. Academic research prospers the librarianship. And management makes the library strong.

[Purpose/significance] This article summarizes the theoretical research and innovative practice of Mr. Meng Liansheng in the field of digital libraries in order to promote the current construction and development of digital libraries in China. [Method/process] Using research methods such as internet survey, literature collection and characters interview, this article analyzed Mr. Meng Liansheng’s positive contributions to the theoretical research of digital libraries, construction and application of digital resources, digital library technologies, digital reference service, and long-term preservation of digital resources. Its innovations in projects such as National Science and Technology Library (NSTL), Chinese Science Digital Library (CSDL), the construction of digital library standards, and Scientific & Technological Knowledge Organization Systems (STKOS) for foreign scientific and technological literature information practice, had also been explored. [Result/conclusion] To re-analyze and study the research results of Mr. Meng Liansheng about digital libraries in the context of today’s smart technology and open science environment will help us clarify the original intention, development context and direction of digital library construction, capture the upcoming changes, and better promote the development of digital libraries.