SPECIAL TOPIC: Research on the Reading Service System of Grassroots Libraries
Xie Juan, Li Xue, Li Hong, Zhang Xiaoyu, Qin Xia
[Purpose/significance] Focusing on the collaborative governance of rural reading services can improve the level of collaborative governance, and the effectiveness of rural-level grassroots reading services. [Method/process] A questionnaire survey for rural residents and reading service providers was carried out in Hubei Province.And based on the integrative framework for collaborative governance proposed by Emerson and Nabatchi, the survey results were analyzed, and the status quo and existing problems of collaborative governance of Grassroots reading services at the rural level were found. [Result/conclusion] The results show collaborative governance of rural reading services is still at a low level. Regarding the collaborative governance system environment, there are problems such as insufficient downward communication of relevant policies and laws, insufficient reading service resources, especially digital resources, insufficient education of reading service personnel, insufficient rural reading atmosphere, and insufficient trust of rural residents in reading services. Regarding the drivers of collaborative governance, there are problems such as the lack of communication between service bodies, which leads to uncertainty, interdependence lack of coordination, lack of incentive mechanisms, and insufficient leadership across departments and organizations. Regarding the collaborative governance dynamics, there is a mechanical and not systematic enough principled contact, not strong enough common motivation based on understanding and trust as willingness to act, and insufficient capacity for joint action at grassroots level. On the basis of above, a collaborative governance framework for rural reading services based on digital reading service platforms and corresponding action strategies are proposed.