Page 53 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.45, 2019

052 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.11, 2019

and human resource management. Information and knowledge technology drive the improvement
of library management efficiency. The accompanying horizontal organization, the increase of labor
costs, work intensity and work skill updating pressure pose challenges to existing organizational
form and related rules. The primary problem is not changing the organizational structure, but how
to ensure the stability for a period and sustainable development of the organizational structure.
People are more concerned about whether the influence of technology wave can support the stable
development of management. Accordingly, librarians and curators also need to be redefined. It is
more important to establish a unified executive team so as to improve the work value of librarians
and teams.The management thinking should transfer from the material-centered to people-centered,
and from personnel management to library governance.

3.5 Overall transformation of the library

The transformation of library elements not only involves important changes of specific elements,
but also a fundamental transformation of the overall library. Table 2 analyzes the four key elements
of the library transformation: space, resources, service and management, which are closely linked.
In such cases, the transformation of the library cannot be achieved simply by new equipment of
new technology trend and space reconstruction. Instead, it is the combined result of the above
elements.
From the perspective of elements, the transformation of the library means that for the purpose of
meeting the developmental needs the library takes the initiative to change the previous operating
mode of space, resources, services and management elements, and carry out in-depth innovation
and reform so as to meet the external requirements of technology, social environment and
librarianship, and promote the library’s future development. From the perspective of the system,
the transformation of the library does not only mean the renewal of the concept and redefinition
of elements, but also the change of visions, especially the profound transformation of theory and
practice, method, technology and application, and the overall transformation on the basis of the
transformation of elements.
The overall transformation concerns the target of the next generation library. According to
existing research, there are two predictions.
Prediction 1: Knowledge center hypothesis. Ke Ping has proposed to build libraries into
“knowledge centers” (Library Society of China, 2004) and “knowledge resource centers” (Ke,
2010). Wu Jianzhong (2016) proposed that the library should be transformed into three centers:
“knowledge center”, “learning center” and “communication center”. Cheng Huanwen (2018)
believes that libraries will develop further into knowledge centers, learning centers and cultural
centers.
Prediction 2: Smart library hypothesis. Wang Shiwei (2011) considers the smart library a new
mode of future library, with intercommunication between people and things as its core element,