Core capability boundaries in library Reading promotion: Insourcing versus outsourcing configurations

As digital transformation accelerates outsourcing adoption in university libraries, concerns emerge regarding core capability erosion in reading promotion services, yet systematic understanding of optimal insourcing–outsourcing boundary choices remains limited. This study employs crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to examine 2399 reading promotion activities from 19 Shanghai universities over the past 5 years, analyzing configurational pathways across four capability dimensions: core collections, distinctive services, data elements, and library spaces. Results reveal asymmetric advantages between service models: insourcing pathways achieve effectiveness through physical space–staff synergy (CO1–CO3, consistency = 0.897–1.000), emphasizing face-to-face interactions and professional relationships, while outsourcing pathways leverage technology–expertise coupling (SO1–SO3, consistency = 0.860–1.000), integrating virtual platforms with external knowledge resources. No single capability proves necessary for success, confirming configurational causality in reading promotion effectiveness. These findings demonstrate that sustainable competitive advantage emerges from capability-specific boundary delineation rather than wholesale outsourcing strategies, providing theoretical insights for capability-based outsourcing decisions and practical guidance for dynamic resource allocation in library digital transformation contexts.