A systematic review of library services platforms research and research agenda

Abstract

With changes in technology and user behavior, library services platforms (LSPs) have emerged and evolved rapidly, as has research on LSPs. The systematic review involved the analysis of 22 studies drawn from 4726 records, with the objective of providing empirical insights into the functions and roles of LSPs. System types, vendors, research methods, participants, roles, and challenges in LSPs research were identified. The results show that the existing studies mainly involve three system types: Alma, Sierra, and WMS, and their vendors are Ex Libris, OCLC, and Innovative. LSPs involve mainly two main types of roles: management-related roles and services-related roles. Meanwhile, libraries face several challenges in the implementation of the LSPs, caused by a huge amount of data, insufficient training, a lack of human resources, and a limited budget. The findings highlight opportunities for future research, including enriching research methodologies and expanding the types of users and systems investigated.