Co-creation as an approach to dialogue-based communication work in academic libraries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53377/lq.25027Keywords:
Co-creation, open science, science communication, organisational learning, Public Relations in librariesAbstract
Academic libraries are increasingly evolving from information providers into active participants in scientific and societal communication processes. This article examines how co-creation can serve as a strategic approach to strengthen dialogue-based communication in academic libraries. Drawing on a case study from the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, it analyses the collaborative development of a communication project on open science in business research. The study highlights how co-creation fosters mutual understanding, credibility, and organisational learning by integrating researchers, designers, and communication professionals in shared meaning-making processes. It also discusses structural and cultural preconditions for successful co-creation as well as implications for the evolving role of communication departments as facilitators within academic libraries. The findings suggest that co-creation contributes to sustainable relationship building and enhances the visibility of libraries as mediators and partners in research transformation.
Downloads
References
Andersson, R. (2025). Strategic communication and value creation: A process theoretical understanding of value formation in strategic communication management. Public Relations Review, 51(2), Article 102559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2025.102559
Borgman, C. L. (2003). The invisible library: Paradox of the global information infrastructure, Library Trends, 54(4), 652–674.
Borgman, C. L. (2010). Scholarship in the digital age: Information, infrastructure, and the Internet. MIT press. https://toc.library.ethz.ch/objects/pdf/z01_978-0-262-02619-2_01.pdf
Borgman, C. L. (2025). Libraries, digital libraries, and data: Forty years, four challenges. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 25(3), 39–58. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2025.a964199
Botan, C. H., & Taylor, M. (2004). Public relations: State of the field. Journal of Communication, 54(4), 645–661. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2004.tb02649.x
Capolupo, N., Piscopo, G., & Annarumma, C. (2020). Value co-creation and co-production in the interaction between citizens and public administration: A systematic literature review. Kybernetes, 49(2), 313–331. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-07-2018-0383
Chen, Y. R. R., Hung-Baesecke, C.-J. F., & Chen, X. (2020). Moving forward the dialogic theory of public relations: Concepts, methods and applications of organization-public dialogue. Public Relations Review, 46(1), Article 101878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2019.101878
Clarke, R. I., Stanton, K. L., Grimm, A., & Zhang, B. (2022). Invisible labor, invisible value: Unpacking traditional assessment of academic library value. College & Research Libraries, 83(6), 926. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.6.926
Cox, A. M., Kennan, M. A., Lyon, L., Pinfield, S., & Sbaffi, L. (2019). Maturing research data services and the transformation of academic libraries. Journal of Documentation, 75(6), 1432–1462. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-12-2018-0211
Dantus, S. J. (2025). When outreach becomes advocacy: Marketing with impact. Public Services Quarterly, 21(3), 205–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228959.2025.2519023
Dezuanni, M., Osman, K., Burton, A., & Heck, E. (2024). IFLA Trend Report 2024: Facing the future of information with confidence. IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/3496
Eden, B. L., & Fagan, J. C. (Eds.). (2014). Leadership in academic libraries today: Connecting theory to practice. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Enzingmüller, C., & Marzavan, D. (2024). Collaborative design to bridge theory and practice in science communication. Journal of Science Communication, 23(2), Y01.https://doi.org/10.22323/2.23020401
Frey, J., Roche, J., Kautonen, H., Schmidt, B., Tsakonas, G., van Wijngaarden, H., Smit, A., Swiatek Cassafieres, C., Burman, L., Verheusen, A., Knigge, R., Joss- Bethlehem, E., & van der Graaf, M. (2023). LIBER Strategy 2023-2027. LIBER – Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7696568
Galvagno, M., & Dalli, D. (2014). Theory of value co-creation: A systematic literature review. Managing Service Quality, 24(6), 643–683. https://doi.org/10.1108/MSQ-09-2013-0187
Gemser, G., & Perks, H. (2015). Co-creation with customers: An evolving innovation research field. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(5), 660–665. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12279
Gemser, G., Calabretta, G., & Karpen, I. (2025). Co-creating the future through design thinking: Deconstructing the consumer co-creation process. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 42(3), 528–556. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12770
Gentile, C., Spiller, N., & Noci, G. (2007). How to sustain the customer experience: An overview of experience components that co-create value with the customer. European Management Journal, 25(5), 395–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2007.08.005
Ind, N., & Coates, N. (2013). The meanings of co-creation. European Business Review, 25(1), 86–95. https://doi.org/10.1108/09555341311287754
Islam, M. A., Agarwal, N. K., & Ikeda, M. (2015a). Conceptualizing value co-creation for service innovation in academic libraries. Business Information Review, 32(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266382115573155
Islam, A., Agarwal, N. K., & Ikeda, M. (2015b). How do academic libraries work with their users to co-create value for service innovation?: A qualitative survey. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, 4(3), 637–658. https://www.qqml-journal.net/index.php/qqml/article/view/274
Islam, M. R., Loureiro, S. M. C., Carvalho, I., & Ramires, A. (2025). Engaging in co-creation experiences: The role of affective image and satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 8(1), 326–349. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-10-2023-0672
Kao, T. Y., Yang, M. H., Wu, J. T. B., & Cheng, Y. Y. (2016). Co-creating value with consumers through social media. Journal of Services Marketing, 30(2), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-03-2014-0112
Kent, M. L., & Taylor, M. (2002). Toward a dialogic theory of public relations. Public Relations Review, 28(1), 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0363-8111(02)00108-X
Kent, M. L., & Taylor, M. (2021). Fostering dialogic engagement: Toward an architecture of social media for social change. Social Media + Society, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120984462
Ko, G., Roberts, D. L., Perks, H., & Candi, M. (2022). Effectuation logic and early innovation success: The moderating effect of customer co-creation. British Journal of Management, 33(4), 1757–1773. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12548
Kupper, J. F. H., Achiam, M., & Roche, J. (2022). Inclusion, reflection and co-creation: responsible science communication across the globe. Journal of Science Communication,21(4), E. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.21040501
Lee, S. Y., Kim, Y., & Kim, Y. (2020). The co-creation of social value: What matters for public participation in corporate social responsibility campaigns. Journal of Public Relations Research, 32(5–6), 198–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/1062726X.2021.1888734
Lossau, N. (2012). An overview of research infrastructures in Europe–and recommendations to LIBER. Liber Quarterly, 21(3–4), 313–329. https://doi.org/10.18352/lq.8028
Macnamara, J. (2016). Organizational listening: Addressing a major gap in public relations theory and practice. Journal of Public Relations Research, 28(3–4), 146–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/1062726X.2016.1228064
Macnamara, J. (2018a). A review of new evaluation models for strategic communication: Progress and gaps. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 12(2), 180–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2018.1428978
Macnamara, J. (2018b). Toward a theory and practice of organizational listening. International Journal of Listening, 32(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2017.1375076
Men, L. R., Tsai, W. H. S., Chen, Z. F., & Ji, Y. G. (2018). Social presence and digital dialogic communication: Engagement lessons from top social CEOs. Journal of Public Relations Research, 30(3), 83–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/1062726X.2018.1498341
Metcalfe, J., Gascoigne, T., Medvecky, F., & Nepote, A. C. (2022). Participatory science communication for transformation. Journal of Science Communication, 21(2), E. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.21020501
Momme, J. M., Hendriks, F., & Enzingmüller, C. (2025). From participation to trust? Understanding trust dynamics in participatory science communication. Science Communication, 48(4), 564–599. https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470251333399
Muñiz Jr, A. M., & Schau, H. J. (2011). How to inspire value-laden collaborative consumer-generated content. Business Horizons, 54(3), 209–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.002
Payne, A. F., Storbacka, K., & Frow, P. (2008). Managing the co-creation of value. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 36(1), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-007-0070-0
Pera, R., Menozzi, A., Abrate, G., & Baima, G. (2021). When cocreation turns into codestruction. Journal of Business Research, 128, 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.01.058
Prahalad, C. K., & Ramaswamy, V. (2004a). Co-creating unique value with customers. Strategy & Leadership, 32(3), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878570410699249
Prahalad, C. K., & Ramaswamy, V. (2004b). Co-creation experiences: The next practice in value creation. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 18(3), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/dir.20015
Ravazzani, S., & Hazée, S. (2022). Value co-creation through social media: A multistakeholder, communication perspective. Journal of Service Management, 33(4/5), 589–600. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-11-2021-0411
Rock, J., McGuire, M., & Rogers, A. (2018). Multidisciplinary perspectives on co-creation. Science Communication, 40(4), 541–552. https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547018781496
Saarijärvi, H., Kannan, P. K., & Kuusela, H. (2013). Value co-creation: Theoretical approaches and practical implications. European Business Review, 25(1), 6–19. https://doi.org/10.1108/09555341311287718
Seebacher, U. (2024). Unternehmenskommunikation neu gestalten. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37701-3
Selbmann, S. (2019). Zur Öffentlichkeitsarbeit wissenschaftlicher Bibliotheken. De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111326023
Siegfried, D. (2024). Establishing a library as an Open Science partner for economic research through impact-oriented public relations work. LIBER Quarterly: The Journal of the Association of European Research Libraries, 34(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.53377/lq.15060
Siegfried, D., Scherp, G., Linek, S., & Flieger, E. (2024). The importance of Open Science in Business Studies and Economics. An empirical study by the ZBW–Leibniz Information Centre for Economics. ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/307060
Soliman, M., Sarstedt, M., Adler, S. J., Siegfried, D., Genschow, O., & Imschloss, M. (2025). A tale of open science: Emergence of a new normal. Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, 77, 763–792. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41471-025-00218-5
Spellman, B., Gilbert, E., & Corker, K. (2017). Open science: What, why, and how. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ak6jr
Vargo, S. L., & Lusch, R. F. (2008). Service-dominant logic: Continuing the evolution. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 36(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-007-0069-6
Voorberg, W. H., Bekkers, V. J., & Tummers, L. G. (2015). A systematic review of co-creation and co-production: Embarking on the social innovation journey. Public Management Review, 17(9), 1333–1357. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2014.930505
Wang, H., & Ran, B. (2025). How does citizen-centric co-production lead to value co-creation? A perspective of interactive governance. Public Management Review, 27(3), 768–793. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2024.2374032
Wiggill, M. N. (2011). Librarian-academic collaboration: The role of strategic communication and relationship management. Communicare: Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa, 30(2), 51–67. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v30i2.1663
Wynne, M., Witt, A., Leinen, P., & Chambers, S. (2023). Libraries as data infrastructures. In K. Linden, J. Niemi, & T. Kontino (Eds.), Proceedings of the CLARIN Annual Conference 2023 (pp.164–167). University of Helsinky. http://hdl.handle.net/10138/570996
Zerfaß, A., & Viertmann, C. (2017). Creating business value through corporate communication: A theory-based framework and its practical application. Journal of Communication Management, 21(1), 68–81. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCOM-07-2016-0059
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Doreen Siegfried
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
