Electronic reserve services for academic libraries in China: practices and concerns

Purpose - This paper aims to offer a comprehensive description and analysis of electronic reserve services in academic libraries in China. It also seeks to describe possible solutions for libraries to build multi-functional e-reserve services in order to face the challenge of the vast expansion in both academia and the economy in modern China. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reviews the recent literature on the practices of e-reserve services, and analyses the results of the online surveys conducted in the 112 key university libraries in the China 211 Project, especially the top 15 university libraries. Findings - The paper reveals that three-level (national, regional, and campus-wide) e-reserve resource systems have been developed jointly or individually by Chinese academic libraries. Their development, implementation and implications are discussed; existing problems and possible solutions are identified. Originality value - The paper provides insights into the recent development of e-reserving services in Chinese academic libraries, offers useful information about e-reserving resources for students and faculty, and recommends solutions to libraries for e-reserve services.