Beyond the reverse product cycle: An exploration of the digital, social and spatial transformation of libraries

Focusing on innovation dynamics in public libraries, this article begins by revisiting one of the very first attempts to construct a theory of innovation in services: the reverse product cycle (RPC), published in Research Policy (Barras, 1986, 1990). With reference to ICT-based innovation trajectories in libraries, the article validates the RPC by identifying a cycle that begins with a stage dominated by process innovations, followed by one dominated by product innovations. It goes further by extending – and in some respects updating – the model, taking into account forgotten technologies and introducing new waves of enabling technologies associated with Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The rise of the internet and digitization posed an existential threat to libraries. Their survival, however, is due to their ability to reinvent themselves – transforming this threat into an opportunity, and embracing innovative trajectories that aren't solely ICT-based. These include book-, object-, individual-, and space-based trajectories. • Barras’ reverse product cycle (RPC) is an attempt to construct a theory of innovation in services. • It describes a shift from process to product innovations, the reverse of the normal industrial cycle. • Observing libraries, the paper updates the ICT-based RPC, confirming its relevance in industry 4.0 and 5.0. • However, non-ICT based innovation trajectories (book-, object-, individual- and space-driven) are missing from the RPC. • These innovation trajectories help explain why the rise of Internet and digitization have not caused libraries to disappear.