the paper analyzes the environments confronted with academic libraries and the evolving characteristics of shanghai jiao tong university that give shape to the conception and implementation of an ic² culture exploring project. this innovative model of sjtu library operation is not only in concert with the strategic goals of sjtu but also with two other conspicuous developmental trends in the larger academic library circle; namely, 1) a trend toward the deepening of library service support in academic arena on the one hand and 2) the trend of diversifying library outreach services on the other hand. based on our first-hand involvement in all phases and aspects of this project and its subsequent review and analysis undertakings, this paper expatiates upon the ic² culture exploring project of sjtu library in terms of its vision, its specific mission objectives, its program design, its unique characteristics, its launching process, its salient case studies, its initial results and its strategies for a sustainable development in the future.