University libraries innovation capability: A framework from Indonesia

Highlights – Innovation capability (IC) research by university libraries is lacking but provides a clear view of the current body of knowledge. – The themes underpinning innovation capability were explored while a novel framework was developed. – The IC could be established when libraries reflect organisational relevancy (OR) and librarians’ confidence (LC) moderated by relationship-based leadership (RL). – The IC potentially facilitates innovation performance (IP). – The RL is a unique variable that must be examined in the wider context. Given the current dynamism of university libraries as knowledge hubs through innovations and adaptations, this qualitative study incorporated the practices of developing innovation capabilities (IC) in libraries, particularly for Indonesian state-owned higher education institutions using grounded theory. In expanding the current body of literature on IC, this research highlighted non-profit stances and proposed a framework for the present context. As the first empirical work to map IC processes from university libraries, this study presented an in-depth view of their progress and a novel variable, relationship-based leadership (RL), for further examination. Notably, potential research topics were formulated for future works.