Research On The Risks Of Library Transformation In China

Changes in social information and economic environment have brought both new opportunities and challenges to the development of libraries,which lead to drastic changes in global library operations.In order to deal with the new information environment and reserve the traditional value of libraries,transformation for libraries has been a common trend all over the world.However,there are many uncertainties in the process of transformation,including economy,policy,technology,culture etc,and these uncertainties have been ignored by both the theory and practice.Consequently,the library transformation will experience some risks,and even disasters.This dissertation claims that,in order to promote the healthy development of the library,people need to sort out the practice of library transformation in China,recognize the risks scientifically,identify and govern risks timely and prevent the disaster of transformation.This dissertation employs multiple methodologies of literature analysis,case analysis,questionnaire surveys,and semantic intensity analysis to clarify the current situation of library transformation in China and to find out the source of risks.This dissertation summarizes the main features of the risks of library transformation through the investigation of the library staff's cognition of the risks and the multi-dimensional analysis of the risk factors.The focus of the study is to highlight the main risks of library transformation in China,and to construct the evolution model of risks in library transformation.Based on this,the dissertation summarizes the evolution path of library transformation risks and explores scientific strategies of risk governance.This study is divided into 9 chapters:Chapter One is the literature review.It analyzes the theoretical research studies and practical progress of library transformation both home and abroad.Previous research studies on the library transformation are abundant.They have the similar research interests:discuss the impact of the information environment on the development of the library from a macro perspective;analyze the social value of library transformation;explore the transformation strategy and discuss the typical cases of transformation.However,scholars both home and abroad have largely ignored the transformation risks.Chapter Two explains that the library transformation is a natural response to the development of the time.The overall development trend of library field in China is good,but there is a huge gap between the library services and the users' demands towards information.Libraries must adapt to the new normal and new types through transformation.In order to promote service economy,civic quality,a culturally-strong country,and to promote the social construction and ecological civilization construction,the society has put forward new requirements on the library.Therefore,libraries are facing severe challenges in investment,population size and structure,human resources and technology,competition from other industries,and internal governance.Only through the transformation,can the libraries optimize the work flow,save the operation cost and improve the service quality.In this dissertation,the library transformation in China is mainly summarized as follows:the transformation of service mode,the transformation of business process and the transformation of organizational structure.Chapter Three analyzes the risk measurement and the sources of risk.We use transformation efficiency,transformation cost,transformation benefit and transformation culture to measure the risks.This dissertation summarizes the uncertainties in library transformation through three aspects:transformation of service mode,business process and organization structure,which relate to the library funds,human resources,law,value orientation and other aspects.Chapter Four screens the risk factors of library transformation in China.This dissertation uses the principle of systematicness,integrity and importance to screen risk factors.On the basis of investigation of international organizations and the status quo of domestic library transformation,and according to the users' feedback on the social media platform and media reports,this dissertation summarizes 40 risk factors,including library business,strategy,finance,human resources,law,operation,technology and value,and consult the views of the insiders in the library field.Using factor analysis and reducing dimension,this dissertation sums up 6 major categories of risks,which are the operational risk,technical risk,environmental risk,legal risk,financial risk and value risk,totally 29 risk factors.Chapter Five,through questionnaire survey with application of five-level Likert Scale,conducts an investigation on the knowledge and awareness of library insiders of transformation risk and the underlying consequences.This dissertation has found that the awareness level of library insiders to library transformation risk is almost unanimous.The average values of possibility of most risks and their consequences are above grade 3.It is acknowledged by the insiders that there is a great potential to risks brought about by transformation,but they are not sure about the underlying consequences.This dissertation makes a detailed and thorough explanation on transformation risks by analysis from different natures of library,different occupational levels and backgrounds of subjects,different development levels of library and three dimensions(subjectivity-objectivity,within and beyond the industry,and leadership and management)and six properties in total.Chapter Six summarizes the main transformation risks of Chinese libraries,including:environmental risks:less customers and fierce competition on commercial information service;operational risks:environmental change within the industry,leadership challenge and lack of human resources;financial risks:insufficient investment and unsustainable financial support from society;legal risks:vague legal status of library,ignorance of responsibilities and obligations and absence of preferential policies related to library;technological risks:delayed technology update and unsuccessful technological integration;value risks:visibility of social values of library and weakened traditional customer services.Chapter Seven concludes the law of the variation of libraries transformation risks in China.It is found out that the transformation risks are universal,predictable and variable.Transformation is a must for the enhancement of library social status and value.Meanwhile,uncertainties such as investment,financial support,technology update and-support from laws and policies may bring risks to the transformation,thus impeding further development of library.Development and uncertainties do exist and these two opposing factors interact with each other,causing risks in the process of transformation.Also the differences of perception between library staff and customers may act as a"catalyst" for risks that may induce greater risks.Chapter Eight discusses the strategies of governing library transformation risks.Adhering to the principles of risk identification in a forward-looking way,professional risk management,legitimate risk migration and socialized risk governance,this dissertation proposes to control risks through environment observation,optimize governance and migration risks,reduces risks through business innovation and to build systems to avoid risksChapter Nine summarizes the research of the dissertation,points out the limitations of the study,and puts forward the areas for future research.