Drivers and challenges of silk resource integration amid LAMs convergence: evidence from China's Yangtze River Delta

Purpose As cultural heritage governance increasingly shifts toward digitalization and institutional collaboration, integrating resources across organizations has become a key pathway for enhancing the public value and transmission effectiveness of cultural heritage. This study investigates the primary drivers and critical challenges of silk resource integration facilitated by libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) convergence mechanisms in China's Yangtze River Delta and proposes empirical insights and region-specific strategies tailored to the distinctive attributes of silk heritage. Design/methodology/approach Using an exploratory qualitative approach, six representative LAM institutions were selected as case studies. Data were collected through investigation and semi-structured interviews with 13 practitioners and analyzed to identify the distribution patterns, institutional roles and integration practices of silk-related cultural resources, as well as the enabling drivers and governance challenges within the convergence framework. Findings The region demonstrates diverse integration models, including acquisition, preservation, research, dissemination and symbiosis convergence, supported by differentiated institutional roles and varied silk-related resource profiles. The integration process is driven by complementary resource endowments, sustainability imperatives and a commitment to enhancing service value, yet it faces persistent challenges such as governance fragmentation, technical inconsistencies, shortages of skilled personnel and constraints in collaboration capacity and funding. Originality/value This study addresses a critical gap in research on the collaborative governance of complex cultural heritage, with a particular focus on silk within the context of LAMs convergence. It elucidates the motivational dynamics and collaborative barriers encountered by diverse LAM actors in the resource integration process, providing both empirical grounding and actionable strategies to advance regional integration and the sustainable transmission of cultural heritage.