Page 55 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.45, 2019

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

which is based on librarianship innovation. In the post-knowledge service era, there is much
leeway for each element to innovate. Innovation will promote changes, while changes can promote
transformation. Only when the subversive transformation of each element reaches a certain level
can the overall transformation be realized. Only when the transformation of elements interacts and
interconnects, though possibly not synchronously, can the overall transformation be successful.
Apart from concepts and key elements, the path of the transformation should also be clarified
and optimized. Although the transformation path of each library may not be completely consistent,
there are three aspects that must be considered. First, the library scenario planning should be
established. We should study various possibilities of the library transformation to provide evidence
for setting transformation goals and formulating new strategic planning. Scenario planning is
a method widely adopted by the international library community to implement the reform in
recent years (O’Connor & Sidorko, 2017) in response to the uncertainty and challenges in the
future (Maggs & Chelin, 2013). In China, it is necessary to make the scenario planning before
the formulation of “the 14th Five-Year Plan” (2021-2025) for libraries in order to further clear
the timetable and roadmap of the library transformation. Second, the driving mechanism of the
library transformation should be developed. Each library should actively respond to changes
of external environment, learn from the experience of other libraries, take the external driving
forces of the transformation as an opportunity, and establish the internal innovation driving
mechanism corresponding to the technology driving and demand driving. The library can set
up transformation working group or transformation innovation team, integrate innovation into
organizational structure, personnel, positions and process, and drive the transformation of
incentive mechanism, honor system construction and organizational culture. Third, we should
begin with the transformation of elements. There is no sequence in the transformation of space,
resources, services and management, which leaves room for the library to choose. According to its
circumstances, the library can choose one or more elements at first, implement them step by step,
and finally transform all the elements to achieve the overall transformation.

References

American Library Association. (2014). About libraries transforming communities (LTC). Retrieved December
8, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/about-ltc.
American Library Association. (2016). The state of America’s libraries 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2018,
from http://www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/content/state-of-americas-libraries-2016-final.pdf.
American Library Association. (2017). ALA extends commitment to libraries transform public awareness
campaign. Retrieved December 1, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/07/ala-extends-
commitment-libraries-transform-public-awareness-campaign.
American Library Association. (2018a). 2018 State of America’s libraries.Retrieved December 1, 2018, from
http://www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/content/2018-soal-report-final.pdf.
American Library Association. (2018b). State of America’s libraries report 2018.Retrieved January 2, 2019,
from http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2018/public-libraries.