Libraries as Hubs for Entrepreneurship

Support, AI Experimentation, Practical Technologies, Monitoring, and Evaluation
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-3-032-03568-4
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 112 Seiten, Format (B × H): 173 mm x 246 mm, Gewicht: 415 g

Reihe: Synthesis Lectures on Information Concepts, Retrieval, and Services

This book investigates how academic and public libraries support entrepreneurs by offering diverse business support services in collaboration with other business support actors. The chapters explore opportunities to innovate these services through artificial intelligence (AI) integration and structured experimentation, with a strong emphasis on co-creation between librarians and entrepreneurs. Collaborative AI experimentations are examined as mechanisms to strengthen adoption factors for Generative AI tools and to support informed decisions regarding adoption or switching to the alternative solutions. Two practical experimentation approaches are introduced: Need-Based Experimentation (NBE), addressing service gaps or operational goals; and Curiosity-Based Experimentation (CBE), encouraging exploratory trials of emerging AI tools. Real-world cases from diverse libraries illustrate adaptable, practice-based examples for providing business support services, conducting AI experimentations, and integrating Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) for both formative and summative assessments. To operationalize these insights, the book includes AI experimentation policies, structured reporting templates, business case formats, and instructional guides for AI tools such as ASReview, Connected Papers, and Citation Gecko. The book advocates that innovation in libraries is achievable for any institution, regardless of size or resources, through experimentation, patrons engagement in AI experimentations, and embedded M&E practices, positioning libraries as active collaborators within their local innovation ecosystems.

Zielgruppe

Professional/practitioner

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gupta, Varun

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Daten / Datenbanken Information Retrieval
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik
• Interdisziplinäres Bibliothekswesen, Informationswissenschaften Bibliothekswesen, Informationswissenschaften, Archivwesen
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Unternehmensführung
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Daten / Datenbanken Data Warehouse
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Wirtschaftsmathematik und -statistik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part A: Public Libraries.- Introduction.- Research Methodology.- Resources Provided by the Library.- External Partnerships.- Lessons for Peer Libraries.- Conclusion.- Part B: Academic Libraries.- Part C: Synergies between Academic and Public Libraies.- Collaboration Opportunities.

Über Autor(innen)

Varun Gupta, Ph.D., is a Professor of Digital Innovation and Director of the Multidisciplinary Research Centre for Innovations in SMEs (MrciS) at Gisma University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and a Researcher at Universidad de Alcalá, Spain.  He holds three doctorates in Organizational Engineering, Economics and Business Management, and Computer Science and Engineering and also earned an MBA, a Máster en Dirección Internacional de Empresas, a Master of Technology (By Research), and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering.  His past affiliations include University College London, University of Toronto, Leicester University, Lund University, Sapienza Università di Roma, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, University of South-Eastern Norway, Poznan University of Technology, and Uniwersytet Szczecinski.  His research focuses on software engineering, digital innovation, technology adoption in SMEs, entrepreneurship, and international business management.