D2.1 Conceptual framework and model of participatory management and sustainable growth v1.0: Towards a conceptual framework for innovation and value co-creation in libraries

This report reviews the theoretical development of co-creation and innovation in libraries in the academic literature, showing their definitions, typologies, drivers, and barriers as well as the existing analytical framework. This sets the foundations of an integrated conceptual framework to understand the process of value co-creation in public libraries service delivery, the main outcome of WP2.

The main outcomes of this first year of work were two literature reviews, one on innovation in public libraries and another on innovation in academic libraries. This literature review provides a comprehensive understanding of research on innovation in libraries. In this regard, it has been confirmed that there is significant theoretical development in terms of definitions, theoretical frameworks, typologies, determinants, drivers, and challenges for innovation in libraries. This provides
a solid theoretical foundation for addressing this topic. Furthermore, the reviews find that the study of innovation in libraries is an emerging research field, as the majority of research on the subject has been concentrated in the last 15 years and continues to grow each year. On the other hand, one of the key conclusions of the work carried out by WP2 this year is that libraries have a distinct and specific language when referring to innovations, changes, transformations, or renewals. Therefore, to study innovation in libraries, it is essential to use the language they employ.

Using the language that libraries and librarians employ to refer to innovations, changes, transformations, or renewals allows us to understand what are the categories of services in which there is innovation and co-creation in libraries. It also allows us to understand the essential dimensions of co-creation and related activities (collaboration, citizen participation, co-operation, co-production or open innovation) in libraries and how intensely these activities are pursued. Thus, academic libraries research tends to focus more on innovations than public libraries research, which can be explained by their higher level of research and development that allows them to be closer to the latest transformations and ways of understanding innovation. However, public libraries also engage in significant innovative activities, often materializing in projects and partnerships between both types of libraries to address specific issues. In this sense, although public and academic libraries have certain differences, it was concluded that innovation in them can be studied similarly, as both types of libraries
typically use a similar language and the innovative services they offer tend to involve similar typologies.

Using the language applied by libraries and librarians is also essential when searching for literature on innovation in libraries. The first searches carried out using the terminology that academics and scholars use for innovation gave much lower results than when the library terminology was used. Thus, a new literature review on innovation in both public and academic libraries has been conducted to offer
an integrative overview of innovation in libraries.

Additionally, the limited amount of literature in the interdisciplinary field of library innovations and co-creation is addressed in exploratory pilot studies carried out at a few selected libraries. They serve to improve understanding of developments in the sector and are useful as inputs for the conceptual framework design and case studies work. These studies broaden the scope of innovation and co-
creation in library services by enhancing the thoroughness and quality of the literature reviews. Additionally, the exploratory pilot studies have contributed to a more comprehensive and practical understanding of library innovation, boosting the project's overall goals, by investigating entrepreneurial service support and co-creation with both traditional and entrepreneurial patrons.

The literature reviews and the exploratory pilot cases have confirmed the usefulness of addressing key request questions across the LibrarIN WPs related to 4 topics: 1) Identification of innovation and co-creation, the loci where they happen, and the ecosystems; 2 ) Innovation drivers, barriers, and impacts; 3) Value Co-creation drivers, barriers, and impacts; and 4) New ways of participation – co-creation process.

Finally, the results of the literature reviews and the work done so far serve to define the conceptual framework for the study of innovation from a service innovation Lancastrian approach. This is work in progress and preliminary results are also presented in this report. The conceptual framework will contain the following dimensions: the “what” and “what for”, service characteristics (new or improved), public and private values, and innovation outcomes. The “who” refers to use preferences/goals, user competencies/capabilities, and provider preferences and competences. The “how” refers to co-production and co-creation by different agents, innovation processes, and roles played by technology, stakeholders, policymakers, and ecosystems.