Evidence Based Innovation in Academic Libraries (Transforming Contents, Technologies & Service Excellence for the Next Generation) — Champeshwar Mishra- R K Mahapatra – N Bhattacharjee
This volume examines innovation across three interconnected dimensions: Content, Technology, and Service Excellence. The section on content transformation addresses the shift from print-centric collections to hybrid and digital ecosystems, including e-resources, open educational resources (OER), research data, institutional repositories, and knowledge curation for multidisciplinary scholarship. Emphasis is placed on collection development informed by usage analytics, user behaviour studies, and research impact indicators. The technology-focused chapters explore emerging and transformative tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, discovery platforms, digital preservation systems, assistive technologies, and smart library infrastructures. Rather than presenting technology as a solution in itself, the book critically examines how technological adoption can be guided by evidence—through pilots, assessment studies, cost–benefit analysis, and user feedback—to enhance access, efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability. Service excellence, the third pillar of this work, highlights the evolving role of libraries in teaching, learning, and research support. Drawing on case studies and assessment frameworks, the book demonstrates how evidence-based service design can improve quality, relevance, and impact, particularly for diverse and next-generation users. While global in outlook, the book gives due attention to the realities of Libraries in developing and transitioning contexts, including India and the Global South. It acknowledges challenges such as resource constraints, digital divides, policy gaps, and capacity building, while also highlighting innovative practices, indigenous solutions, and scalable models that can inform policy and practice at institutional and national levels.