Abstract:

[Purpose/Significance] In the era of cloud computing, the Library Services Platform (LSP) failed to become a unified solution for libraries it promised to be. Now, it faces new development bottlenecks in the era of smart libraries. Its relatively rigid architecture, isolated data models, and limited intelligence level make it difficult to meet modern users' urgent demands for access to new resource ecosystems and proactive services. This limitation stems from the fact that existing LSPs are rooted in a resource management design philosophy. They lack native support for intelligence, personalization, and ecosystem integration, which hinders their ability to serve as a core component in the construction of smart libraries. [Method/Process] The rapid development of large language model (LLM) technology is promoting libraries to transition from digital intelligent phases into a new era of intelligent services. As AI agents are increasingly emerge as a core strategy for LLM applications, this paper proposes a next-generation LSP architecture called A-LSP, which is agent-oriented. The core of A-LSP consists of a three-layer logical model. 1) Layer 1: Compatibility & Tools - MCP Marketplace, serving as the foundation of the platform, this layer bridges the agent ecosystem with the external world. It transforms existing heterogeneous library systems (including legacy LSPs) and external tools into invocable "capability units" for agents through standardized protocols. 2) Layer 2: Orchestration & Intelligence－Agent Middleware. Functioning as the platform's "operating system" and "brain," this layer handles agent lifecycle management, task planning and decomposition, state and memory maintenance, and most crucially, the coordination of multi-agent collaboration. 3) Layer 3: Application & Ecosystem - Agent Marketplace. This functional layer serves users and developers, where various reusable agents encapsulating specific business logic are published, discovered, combined, and invoked, creating a rich application ecosystem. This architecture enables the implementation of new platform strategies without replacing legacy systems, establishing a modern technological platform with endogenous intelligence, inclusive compatibility, and an open ecosystem. This agent-based library service platform can be seen as a significant upgrade to existing LSPs, it drives their transformation from resource management-centric to agent service-centric, establishing itself as the library service platform for the AI era. [Results/Conclusions] Moreover, this paper puts forward a "Five Centers" construction demand framework for future libraries, namely, the Smart Resource Center, Smart Service Center, Smart Learning Center, Smart Scholarly Communication Center, and Smart Cultural Heritage Center, to build a blueprint for the integration of library technology and business. For each center, it delineates a representative complex application scenario and analyzes the underlying multi-agent collaboration processes, thereby clearly demonstrating A-LSP's deep integration with each center's operational logic and illuminating its profound impact on future library service models.

Key words: agent, smart library, library service platform, large language model, multi-agent system, model context protocol