Towards implementing knowledge management in academic libraries

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss the applications of knowledge management (KM) for library practice. Design/methodology/approach – The paper starts by reviewing the relevant literature and then the results of an empirical study which investigated the perceptions of LIS community on the relevance of KM to libraries. The involvement of libraries in KM programs is also presented. Findings – The results show that the LIS community exhibits a positive attitude towards introducing KM to libraries, and not only because this could bring libraries closer to their parent organization, but also because it might help them to survive in an increasingly challenging environment. Practical implications – Although there are some indicators of involvement of libraries in KM in published case studies (through activities such as development of intranets and institutional repositories of content management and embedding information literacy instruction in the curriculum and employing web 2.0 technologies for knowledge sharing), libraries are still in the early stage of understanding the potential implications of KM. Originality/value – The paper focuses on KM in the library community.

Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 2013

In today's knowledge-based economies, appropriate Knowledge Management (KM) has proved a strategic management tool to survive and thrive in the ever-changing global market. Therefore, increasingly, all types of organisations including tertiary institutions are adopting KM. This paper focuses on university libraries and presents the partial findings of a study carried out to investigate and explore KM practices in Southern African Development Community (SADC) university libraries. A structured questionnaire was used to carry out the study. The study revealed the main reasons for practicing KM to improve library services: to improve library services and productivity, produce more with less, avoid duplication of efforts and leverage existing knowledge. The major challenges were identified as constant budget decline, lack of incentives, inadequate staff training and expertise, a lack KM strategy, insufficient information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and a lack o...

IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2014

The development of knowledge management in recent years has become a great concern for librarians and libraries. This paper willreview the development of knowledge management.It will also examine the role of librarians/libraries in knowledge management and recommends that librarians/libraries in the digital age should be in change of knowledge management in their respective organizations in order to leverage the intellectual assets and to facilitate knowledge creation.

AMITESH PUBLISHER & COMPANY, 2024

The library will play a very crucial role in the extension and modification of knowledge. The development of knowledge management in recent years has become the key concern for librarian and libraries. Knowledge Management requires more effective methods of information handling, speedy transfer of information. This paper is intended to be an overview to assist knowledge management in terms of its relevance for library and Information science professionals. It also examines the role of librarian/libraries in knowledge Management.

2019

This developmental paper provides an overview of the factors influencing knowledge management (KM) practices in academic libraries as currently understood and presented in the literature. Important here is the discussion pertaining to organizational culture, KM strategy development and the role of information communication technology in KM within academic libraries as critical factors. The paper also presents an overview of KM by clarifying the necessary terminology from relevant studies in the literature that have focused on KM. Factors which are regarded in the literature as contributing to the failure of successful implementation of KM practices are also discussed.

Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice, 2015

Knowledge Management (KM) has become a fundamental process for all types of institutions in society. Academic libraries are also an integral part of the knowledge system, these institutions being one of the forms that contribute to knowledge development. This study aims to find out the challenges and opportunities associated with KM practices in Dhaka University Library (DUL). The specific objectives were to ascertain the understanding of KM concepts among library professionals of DUL, to explore an overview of KM and its role, and to identify the rationale behind not practicing KM properly at DUL. Appropriate methods were employed. The findings indicate that limited expertise and lack of clear guidelines are the major challenges for the implementation of KM in DUL.

2019

The data Management (KM) has become a crucial guideline for the data and data Society, also as for libraries. In our standard of living, we have a tendency to modify vast quantity of information and knowledge. Data {and information and data and data} isn't knowledge till we all know a way to mine the worth out of it. This is the reason we need knowledge management. The rising field of information management offers educational libraries the chance to boost effectiveness, each for themselves and their parent establishments. The aim of information management in libraries is to take care of relationship in between library and therefore the user. The modern academic libraries are now focusing to deliver the information in the digital form through web, Online Public Access Catalogue via internet. Academic departments, or maybe school and students, may purchase or build their own portals to meet their academic and/or research needs. To prove their connection and price, educational libraries should attempt to produce the correct quantity of data to the correct patronage at the correct time with a right expense of financial and human resources. With a stagnant or dwindling library budget, educational libraries need to increase their operational potency so as to fulfill the challenge. One management tool which will facilitate during this regard is data Management Knowledge management may be a viable means that within which educational libraries may improve their services within the gift knowledge era.

Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences, 2019

The primary goal of this paper includes finding out systems used in the National Library of Bangladesh (NLB) to confine the created knowledge and investigate the library officers' views of knowledge management (KM). A survey method has been used for this present study. The staff of NLB was purposively chosen for this study. For data collection, a questionnaire was sent to the 12 officers of NLB. The study revealed that NLB record their tacit knowledge by keeping in mind, and 36.4% recorded their knowledge by taking notes. A maximum number of respondents replied that KM is essential and relevant in NLB but needs to update regularly in the library. The study identified that KM might bring benefits for the organization, and the response rate regarding this was 100%. This research is restricted in its span, and data was collected from only twelve library officers of NLB by applying a questionnaire survey. The paper proposes that library users and staff of NLB need to broaden their understanding and modify their usual mindset and concern about the holistic approach of KM system design by giving attention to various types of knowledge, i.e., explicit and tacit knowledge. This research explored the unique views of library officers on the topic of KM in libraries.

College & Research Libraries, 2001

The emerging field of knowledge management offers academic libraries the opportunity to improve effectiveness, both for themselves and their parent institutions. This article summarizes knowledge management theory. Current applications in academic libraries and higher education are described. Similarities and differences between knowledge management and academic library practices are discussed. Issues needing resolution are presented.

Adoption of Information and Communication Technology in library domain not only exemplified the services but also opened up scintillating avenues for document management which, however, with the proliferation of information on web resulted to the propagation of the term information management and subsequently to knowledge management. Explicit, Embedded and Tacit, the three panoptic group of knowledge have predominant impact in libraries. Arriving to the massive missions like, accumulation, systematic organisations, preservations and effective disseminations of knowledge, the libraries require adequate professional competencies along with infrastructures. Preservation of knowledge and its management from valuable records of culture connect to succeeding generations and the Libraries through out the ages have proved to be essential intermediary in establishing communication among past, present, and future. Further, it adopts multiple knowledge management tools to ensure preservation of knowledge both in print or electronic. The paper discusses various dimensions and activities involved in information management and knowledge management including its creation, impetus on library services and technological issues including various knowledge management tools for effective organization of knowledge and its dissemination including enhancement of skills.

In dynamic age it is examined that librarians/libraries in the digital and knowledge age should be in charge of knowledge management in their respective organizations in order to leverage the intellectual assets and to facilitate knowledge creation. In order to take a charge, first of all a librarian should understand the difference between information, knowledge and also knowledge management. This paper will give a better prospect to the librarians in understanding this concept and to create a culture and structure that promotes information sharing and learning in their organization/libraries.

staging.babymed.com

The history of KM is evolving. However, it has a long root in library practice in the sense of managing knowledge. The initial appeal of the emerging field was in business. Recently, Knowledge Management (KM) has often been claimed to be an essential ingredient in building competitive within libraries. Yet, KM adoption is relatively slow in evolving especially in the context of Malaysian university libraries. Whereby library management need to have initiatives to take steps and move forward for encouraging their staffs in acknowledging KM. This paper presents a conceptual model/framework that will be developed in the perspective of the Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) at the university libraries environment. This Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) model/framework relies on knowledge processes that exist in a Library and Information Sciences (LIS) environment. The conceptual model/framework emphasizes on the knowledge gaps found, namely as Knowledge Record (KRe) and Knowledge Preserving (KPr) in the current KM Practice framework. Nevertheless, it is hoped that these novel two processes of knowledge gaps could provide a direction for future research and contribute to enrich the literature in KM areas.

Library and Information Perspectives and Research, 2024

Knowledge has become a crucial resource in our society, managing knowledge helps information professionals in improving services being rendered to library users. The digital era has revolutionised the landscape of knowledge management in academic libraries, presenting new opportunities and challenges for information professionals. Academic libraries face the complex task of formulating effective strategies and implementing best practices for knowledge management. To actively participate in knowledge management activities, certain competencies and skills are required by library personnel. Thus, this study explores knowledge management practices in academic libraries in Ondo State . This study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of 114 library personnel working in the eight (8) academic libraries in Ondo state tertiary institutions. The population of this study was limited to professionals (librarians) and paraprofessionals (library officers) only. The sampling technique adopted for this study was total enumeration. The research instrument for this study was a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed the main purposes of implementing KM in academic libraries, which include improving library services, managing information explosions, and meeting information needs of users, among many others. The highest rated areas of KM in academic libraries include digital and online services, reference services, technical services, policy and decision making, information literacy program, and resource management. Strategies of KM, as indicated by the study, includes using available ICT facilities for KM activities, providing ICT infrastructure, training in ICT and KM, developing a knowledge sharing culture, and providing mentorship. The benefits of KM, according to the findings, include gaining new skills, eradicating duplication of work, providing new jobs and roles to library professionals, transforming libraries into learning organisations, helping librarians respond effectively to users" needs, and so on. Respondents indicated that all the ten skills listed in the study are important for KM implementation. The major problems of KM implementation identified were budget decline, lack of clear guidelines and policies on KM, inadequate staff training, inadequate technology, lack of appropriate rewards and incentives, among others. Knowledge management will empower libraries to thrive as dynamic knowledge hubs in the digital era. Academic libraries should make sure that they manage their knowledge so as to facilitate easy and timely sharing and use of knowledge for the betterment of academic community. The study recommends that management need to make adequate provision for staff training and technological infrastructure so as to facilitate knowledge management and improve library services.

The developments of the internet and related information communication technology have not only enhanced storage and flow of information, but also changed the nature of library and information services. In the midst of these changes, knowledge management (KM) has emerged as a further significant influence on practices of library and information science. This study has explored the practices of the professionals working in the university libraries of Pakistan about knowledge management. The study was conducted through a survey using a semi structured questionnaire. The sample and population of the study were library incharge working and supervising all libraries activities in the university libraries of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.

Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice, 2018

This paper confers about the implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) in the National Library of Bangladesh (NLB). The main aim of this study was to investigate how the NLB goes about creating, implementing, disseminating, and applying knowledge within the organization. The other objectives of this paper were to identify the current status of KM in NLB and the understanding of different facets of KM by the staff of the National Library. The paper revealed that the situation of KM in NLB is not satisfactory. The paper also described the fact that the working environment supports the implementation but there needs to be some changes in the policies. Finally the research disclosed that NLB is a great place for implementing KM and has a large amount of possibilities for the adoption of KM. This qualitative research used the questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection. Finally, data has been processed and analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel.