Page 42 - Journal of Library Science in China 2020 Vol.46

SHAO Bo, SHAN Zhen & WANG Yi / Construction of smart libraries with new generation service platforms: 041
Business reengineering and data management

the acquisition process, and optimize the allocation of human resources. In addition, as a bridge
between the library and booksellers/suppliers, the acquisition platform helps the library in various
cooperative relationships. All problems can now be solved online and seamlessly connected with
the cataloging module or automatic cataloging system.

Figure 2. Acquisition process based on the new generation library service platform

The new platform is particularly important for the acquisition process reengineering of electronic
resources. In that process, electronic resources can be copied to the database of the institution
from the central knowledge repository, and self-built databases are also supported, so that a huge
collection of digital resources can be created on the library platform. The electronic resource
database and the electronic resource list (the electronic resource database list in Alma) can be
connected through the electronic resource service to unify the service entrance and service path.
(2) Reengineering of the library’s collection development mode
The collection development mode of smart library should be transferred from “just in case”
to “just in time” (FU, 2017). Data management of the library has experienced the transition
from traditional ILS system to ERM system, and then to the new generation service platform.
The traditional ILS system manages mostly print resources. The ERM system (electronic
resource management system) is used to deal with digital resources, such as electronic journals
and bibliographic databases. Both of them work in the “just in case” mode, and they can only
wait for the user’s request to deliver literature services, which is simple and slow. Sometimes,
users’ demand for information resource have to be met through interlibrary loan. However, the
new generation library service platforms integrate the functions of “print, electronic and digital
resources integration+discovery service” and handles print, electronic and digital resources in a