Exploration of Social Forces' Participation in Public Library Management and Service Innovation in Chuzhou

Abstract

[Purpose / Significance] Chuzhou Library is the first prefecture-level library in the country to provide overall service outsourcing. Its exploration of introducing social forces to participate in public library service innovation is of great significance to the current construction and improvement of China's public cultural service system. [Method / Process] Based on the social and policy background of social forces' participation in the service innovation of public libraries, this paper discussed the innovative services of social forces in their participation in Chuzhou Library's construction from five different perspectives: construction, management, services, promotion and institution innovation. This paper summarizes several problems in the development of Chuzhou Library: the public's enthusiasm towards public libraries remains low; local characteristics are not deeply explored; the reader activities create low cultural benefits; the sustainable development of the Library is threatened due the excessive dependence on outsourcing. [Results / Conclusions] The paper suggested that public libraries should establish and improve their mechanism in motivation, association, operation and risk control in order to better engage the social forces in the future.