Factors fostering cloud-based services adoption in Chinese academic libraries

Purpose In the modern data-intelligent age, academic libraries are increasingly facing the transformation of their role within the institution. Difficulties are often related to the challenges of information service provision, which should provide easy access to data for real-time decision-making. Cloud-based services (CBS) are an emerging technological application, worthy of more attention on the part of library personnel, because of its likely huge potential on intelligent management promotion. This study aims to combine the technology adoption model (TAM) and the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework to develop a hybrid model identifying factors driving CBS adoption in Chinese academic libraries, offering a validated model for library administrators and policymakers. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a quantitative methodology, conducting a survey of 12 professional sectors of Chinese double-first university libraries from 48 cities and two autonomous regions of China. The survey focuses on discovering influential factors of libraries’ willingness to adopt CBS. In total, 277 responses were obtained from senior library personnel. Subsequently, quantitative theories are formulated by using the literature on technology adoption. Moreover, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is used for data analysis by SmartPLS. Findings The study draws attention to the different construct factors, which enhance the procedure of CBS adoption. It can be concluded that the efficient utilization of technological resources and robust policy practices are necessary to support CBS in academic libraries. Many libraries have significantly reformed and designed their technological framework, to push “future learning centres” construction to satisfy patrons’ demands. Originality/value The study combines TAM and TOE to identify factors driving CBS adoption in Chinese academic libraries, offering a validated model for library administrators and policymakers. It examines the adoption intention of CBS in libraries by implementing a quantitative survey from seasoned library personnel of Chinese double-first university libraries. It concludes that government policy and library personnel are definitely helpful to better comprehend the motivations behind technology adoption of libraries, especially with regard to CBS, which could improve the libraries’ capability to construct “future learning centres” as intelligent management measures.