Construction and Promotion Path of Public Library Service Capacity in the Smart Library Era

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] The transformation of public libraries into smart libraries depends on the continuous improvement of their own service capacity. With a growing interest in the construction of smart libraries, this paper takes public library service capacity as the research object and explores the construction and promotion path of public library service capacity, offering a guidance for public libraries' transformation into smart libraries. [Method/Process] Following the research ideas from the current situation to the future development, this paper first studied the three-stage evolution of public library service development through literature review, and re-examines the concept, characteristics and requirements of public library service capacity in the era of smart libraries. Then, based on the existing standard system, and considering the new demands in the smart library era, we explored the service capacity system of public libraries with an analysis on the constituent elements and influencing factors. [Results/Conclusions] The transformation of public libraries into smart libraries is a long and gradual process, and the construction of public library service capacity will also be a dynamic process of continuous in-depth development. Therefore, public libraries are suggested to promote their service capacity step by step based on their factor structure. The construction of public library service capacity in the era of smart libraries includes five dimensions: resource capacity, talent capacity, cultural capacity, management capacity and environmental ability. Therefore, we suggest that public libraries improve their service capacity through five paths, including (1) to build a resource system based on smart service through integration and reorganization; (2) to cultivate the ability of librarians based on smart service through enabling librarians' growth; (3) to build an organizational culture based on smart service through reshaping the concept; (4) to innovate the management model based on smart service evaluation and assessment; (5) to create a cooperation environment based on smart services through alliance collaboration, so as to promote the development of public libraries. This research provides specific methodological guidance for the construction of public library service capacity. However, due to the limitation of time, the integrity of the service capacity indicator system in this research still needs to be verified. We will continue to conduct the in-depth research based on the theory and evaluation system of library service capacity, and refine the indicators, so as to provide theoretical basis and reference for public libraries to establish their smart library strategic planning based on service capacity evaluation.

Keywords

• smart library|smart service|service capacity|library 3.0