Critical factors in awakening the slumbering collections: a study based on XGBoost
| Date | 29 August 2022 |
| Pages | 863-883 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-11-2020-0353 |
| Published date | 29 August 2022 |
| Author | Xiaoxiao Zhang,Guoliang Shi,Qiupan Jin |
Critical factors in awakening
the slumbering collections:
a study based on XGBoost
Xiaoxiao Zhang and Guoliang Shi
Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing, China, and
Qiupan Jin
Information School, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose is to explore the essential reasons for the differences between book awakening
phenomena, to develop the critical factors in awakening the slumbering collections and to provide a reliable
basis for maximizing book value and optimizing collection allocation.
Design/methodology/approach –The research employs the integrated learning algorithm XGBoost to
measure driving factors. In the process of book circulation, the characteristics of collections and readers are
worthyof attention. Therefore, this study also carries out feature selection and model construction from the two
dimensions of books and readers.
Findings –The results show that reader features have a stronger impetus for the collection awakening
phenomenon than collection features. Among reader features, education level, gender and major subject are the
main factors, which are followed closely by the activity level; among collection features, publication date and
price are the main driving factors. The indicators of book popularity are not significant, whose effect on the
phenomenon of collection awakening is almost negligible.
Originality/value –This study aims to augment the theory of zero circulation from the theoretical level and,
for the first time, seeks to definethe phenomenon of collection awakening. This study attempts to present novel
ideas for research in the field of libraries and to provide references for optimizingcollection and maximizing the
value of books.
Keywords Book value, XGBoost, Collection awakening phenomenon, Collections features, Readers features,
Zero circulation
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Together, rapid development of high-tech, represented by the Internet of Things, and quick
growth of digital resources has affected the circulation of traditional paper resources in
libraries. In order to realize their sustainable development, traditional libraries are facing new
opportunities and challenges, and to confront them, they must make changes. In the era of
Library 3.0, the implementation of innovative management and diversified services is a
necessary strategic change, required effectively to respond to environmental changes and to
promote development (Koloniari et al., 2018;Cruz, 2019). In addition, user supremacy is both
the aim of library services and the starting point and position for libraries to formulate related
management systems. To study the problems of book circulation, we should fully consider
the needs of readers and remove the shackles of traditional thinking in order to arrive at
maximum utilization of book resources and improve readers’satisfaction.
The problem of a low utilization rate of library collections, which are the basis of their
services, is now obvious due to the impact of mobile terminals, generalized fragmented
reading and vast network resources. Book circulation rate is an important indicator reflecting
the use of paper resources in libraries (Ji, 2013). Data show that the circulation situation of
Critical factors
in slumbering
collections
863
The study was funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities B200207036.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/2050-3806.htm
Received 16 January 2022
Revised 29 March 2022
2 August 2022
Accepted 7 August 2022
Aslib Journal of Information
Management
Vol. 75 No. 5, 2023
pp. 863-883
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2050-3806
DOI 10.1108/AJIM-11-2020-0353
paper books in libraries is declining. The survey report of the academic libraries produced by
the United States National Center for Education Statistics finds that the circulation rate of
books is only 14%, and the circulation volume of books in most libraries has declined since
the mid-1990s (Holderman, 2017). These declines are due in part the rapid development of the
Internet and the growing impact of e-books (Lee, 2012). Feng (2015) argues that problems
such as the declining book lending volume and the low utilization rate of library collections
are common in academic libraries. Rodr
ıguez-Bravo and Rodr
ıguez-Sedano (2016) show that
abundant electronic resources in academic libraries lead to a decrease in the stock of paper
collections.
The values of paper collections
To a certain extent, the paper collection of a library can reflect the value orientation of
a library’s collection construction, reading culture and social research. Although electronic
books have developed rapidly, paper books still have their irreplaceable advantages. The
values of paper collections mainly include the following points:
First, most of the paper collections in academic libraries are free for readers. To a certain
extent, students should be encouraged to make full use of library resources to make full use of
idle valuable books, instead of leaving paper books idle in the library and choosing to pay for
paper or electronic books. Therefore, fully encouraging students to borrow the free resources
of the library can not only realize resource reuse, improve the circulation rate and value of
books but also save readers the cost of purchasing books.
Second, long-term use of electronic reading has radiation, which affects vision and health
to a certain extent. In addition, compared with paper books, e-books obtained through
informal channels may have risks such as network virus intrusion and information security.
Therefore, for readers, paper books have advantages in terms of health and safety.
Third, this is a complex situation, with several factors affecting consumers’experience
with e-book readers (Shim et al., 2016). Paper books provide many users a better reading
experience and greater satisfaction, which cannot easily be replaced by e-books. Paper books
are also more in line with the reading habits of most readers, which are easy to mark and
understand and achieve better reading results through deep thinking. Therefore, for readers,
paper books have advantages in terms of experience and reading effect.
It should be emphasized that this research adheres to the attitude of supporting the
coexistence and healthy development of paper and electricity in academic libraries. Although
the research is aimed at promoting the circulation of paper collections and maximizing value,
it does not show any opinion of rejecting e-book borrowing. In summary, studying the
circulation of paper books can help us learn the status of collections and readers’borrowing
behavior. Through in-depth research, existing problems can be identified and resolved, which
is helpful to improve the circulation situation of paper books in libraries and realize the
greatest book value possible.
Relevant research points out that the quality of paper books in the collection is uneven,
and some valuable books are not noticed much by readers (Zhang, 2013). This points to the
not uncommon phenomenon of “slumbering”in collections. If some valuable books are
removed from shelves by librarians because they are not borrowed by readers for a long time,
this is potentially a great waste of valuable resources and knowledge. So, are these valuable
“slumbering”books likely to be awakened from their sleep? What factors affect the collection
awakening phenomenon? How should librarians do the weeding out job so as to avoid
premature removal of books that may deserve to be awakened in the future? This is a topic
worthy of attention and in-depth study by the library science community.
Based on reviewing previous research, this article explores and expands the zero-
circulation theory from the perspective of improving the utilization of collection resources
and maximizing the value of books and explains the phenomenon of “collection awakening”.
AJIM
75,5
864
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