Research on smart library construction trends of public libraries in China based on “14th Five-Year” Plans

Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] The study constructs a framework of intelligent library construction ideas for public libraries during the “14th Five-Year” Plan period, intending to provide reference and innovative understanding for the intelligent transformation of public libraries in China. [Method/Process] The study selected the strategic planning texts of 32 provincial public libraries and 15 sub-provincial public libraries in China as the sample for analysis, and the general objectives, development strategies, and specific actions about smart libraries in the sample were used as the basic analysis units for manual class coding to reveal the contents related to smart library construction in the planning texts. [Result/Conclusion] Active development of smart libraries has now become a basic consensus in public libraries. It is found that the path of smart transformation of public libraries mainly revolves around six aspects, including technology, space, resources, services, management, and collaboration and coordination. Future public library practices can start from three aspects, such as the overall construction of Digital China, the National Cultural Digitization Strategy, and the construction of great power of quality, to provide insights for their intelligent transformation.