Study on managing strategy of library services : the case of Zhejiang University Library

Abstract

Purpose – The study aims to identify strategies to affirm some new areas to develop library business with high return value on investment (in other words, to expansive library value), which are normally ignored, as well as to evaluate and demonstrate the true accomplishments and impacts of the libraries on education and research of the university. Design/methodology/approach – Methodologies are based on a series of surveys of library service utilization and the users perception of the library services value to create and design service modes for different user communities in one specific case study library (Library of Zhejiang University, China ) in order to describe the Methodologies better. Findings – Obtaining the data of the users' cognition on the library services and the perception of its effects applying contingent valuation method, as well as the feature information of the ideal library service, this paper revealed the library service value and discovered weakness to find out the clue for improvement. Positive outcomes included this project is one part of the strategy to build up and exhibit an active image of the library as well as one of the actions to setup a close relationship with various communities of the home university. Practical implications – With the methods provided by the paper, we establish a library services management system including dual functions. Firstly, it can tap and stimulate our objective users' potential information services needs. Secondly, it will help to improve library resources usage (including human resources). Originality/value – This case study offers an operational strategy in a convincing way to prove the impacts of library services. At the same time, the study also gives the chances to further enhance the effectiveness of library service.