Page 6 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2018 Vol. 44

Disruptive changes and the post-library era: Toward

supply-side structure reform of knowledge services

ZHANG Xiaolin 〇a *
National Science Library, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Abstract
In view of predictions of the replacement of library work by automation, this paper analyzes the trends
towards digital, data-centered and computable knowledge. It puts forwards that the information era
is moving towards data era and computing era. We need to reexamine library services, to redefine
knowledge discovery, expression, literacy and services, and to promote the supply-side reform of
knowledge services. We can define the library from the perspective of service mechanisms based on
knowledge and its utilization, reposition library scenarios from the perspective of services embedded
and merged into users’ workflows, absorb vitality and play the library’s role in knowledge-intensive
activities such as scientific research, technological innovation, teaching, production and management.

Keywords
Disruptive changes, Library, Knowledge environment, Knowledge computation, Knowledge services

0 On the occupation of librarians at risk

Based on the knowledge aggregative and intensive service mechanisms, the library is confronted
with great challenges brought by reforms in knowledge creation, distribution and utilization. These
reforms accelerate the library to fulfill its missions, enhance capabilities and contribute more, but
will also exert an impact on its staff.
In 2014, an article in Forbes suggested that “let’s just close down the lending libraries and
buy every citizen an Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription” (Wortsall, 2014). Taking the tasks
of creativity, social intelligence, perception and manipulation into consideration, The Future
of Employment released by the Oxford in 2013 indicated that the employment of 99% library
technicians (who perform the day-to-day functions of a library) and 65% librarians (who are
responsible for resource construction, subject cataloging and services) would be replaced by
computers (Frey & Osborne, 2013). According to Jobslost, Jobs Gained: Workforce Transitions
in a Time of Automation released by the McKinsey Global Institute, 16% to 31% workers (0.118
billion to 0.236 billion) will be displaced by automation by 2030 (Mckinsey Global Institute,
2017). As a matter of fact, these predictions have ignored challenges of artificial intelligence,
including AlphaGo, AlphaZero, Bianshiji (an app that can write poems) (Bianshiji, 2017), popular

* Correspondence should be addressed to ZHANG Xiaolin, Email: zhangxl@mail.las.ac.cn, ORCID: 0000-0001-8891-8366