Academic libraries constitute a core pillar of the higher education system and an indispensable component of the national innovation ecosystem. China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) assigns new strategic imperatives to the smart transformation of academic libraries. Building upon a clarification of the central roles that smart academic libraries are expected to fulfill during this period, this paper systematically analyzes the principal challenges currently confronting library development across four dimensions: resource systems, service models, technology integration, and human capital. It subsequently proposes a multi-dimensional development framework oriented toward the objectives of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The findings demonstrate that achieving high-quality smart library transformation requires the coordinated advancement of data asset activation, full-scenario service innovation, integrated technology governance, and talent capacity building. This paper aims to provide both theoretical reference and practical guidance for academic libraries seeking to fulfill their strategic mandate in a new era of digitally empowered higher education.

Ling Zhu. Development Pathways for Smart Academic Libraries under the 15th Five-Year Plan. Frontiers in Educational Research (2026), Vol. 9, Issue 5: 174-180. https://doi.org/10.25236/FER.2026.090524.

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