The Evolution and Approaches of Information Analysis Service of University Libraries in China

ABSTRACT

The role of reference and information service has been redefined in some Chinese university libraries. In these libraries the focus of reference and information service has transformed into information analysis. University libraries have been a participant in the management and evaluation in scientific research, technological innovation, and discipline construction. The information analysis service of Zhejiang University Library is a typical case. Zhejiang University library established an information analysis group in 2009 in reference and information service division. To further guarantee the professionalism of service, the information analysis service center was set up in 2018 as a separate division. Over the past decade, information analysis service has played the potential of library in supporting decision-making, scientific research and innovation, discipline construction, research performance evaluation, etc. Information analysis service makes the popularity and status of the university library improve continuously. The evolution of information analysis service of Zhejiang University Library is reviewed in this paper, from the initial stage to the expansion stage, and then to the establishment of professional division. Approaches to promote the progress of information analysis service are summarized. The future goals are also discussed from the perspectives of strengthening the innovation mind-set, librarian development, and information analysis literacy.

KEYWORDS:

• University library
• information analysis service
• decision making support
• intellectual property service
• information literacy

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the retired professor Jiading Miao. Prof. Miao used to be the curator of Zhejiang University Library. He has always been concerned about the new development of librarianship. Prof. Miao inspired us to write the paper to share our progress and approaches. He also encouraged us to think our future deeper about the information analysis service of Zhejiang University Library.