This paper explores the transition of the public library system in mainland China from a planned economy to a socialist market economy in terms of library management and organizational change. The adoption by libraries of fee-based information services-a new concept of the economic reform period-has stimulated further library reforms such as "reorganization" and "one library runs two different types of business". This study has chosen Zhongshan library and Shenzhen library of Guangdong as case studies to analyze these transitions. Generally speaking, during this period of reform, public libraries in mainland China have developed librarianship with Chinese characteristics. While controversial, the current practices do improve the library services across various dimensions as well as facilitates the building up of a modern librarianship in mainland China.