Knowledge Sharing in Libraries: A Case Study of Knowledge Sharing Strategies in Indonesian University Libraries

Abstract

Knowledge sharing is believed by many organisations as a panacea for knowledge creation, and an important activity to boost innovation, improve productivity, and increase understanding among knowledge workers. Knowledge sharing has become a crucial activity in knowledge management and is adopted by many organisations especially in the develop countries. In Indonesia, there are not many organisations that implement knowledge management, however knowledge sharing is quite popular and is being used by organisations including library. There are not many libraries in Indonesia that implement knowledge management initiative formally, however, some libraries are conducting knowledge sharing regularly and that has become a formal programme in the libraries. Many libraries have knowledge sharing initiative for many purposes and they have different strategies when conducting knowledge sharing. This paper is investigating the knowledge sharing strategies, the technology that they use, and the knowledge sharing purposes and benefits as well as the knowledge sharing obstacles in university libraries in Indonesia. There are five university libraries that implement knowledge sharing. The purposes of this paper are (1) to describe the knowledge sharing strategies in those libraries, (2) to describe the technology and facility that support knowledge sharing in those libraries, (3) to explain the purposes and benefits of knowledge sharing for the librarians and the libraries, (4) to explain the obstacles during the knowledge sharing implementation, and (5) to describe how the knowledge documentation process works and how the knowledge is reused. The paper output is a recommendation of knowledge sharing best practices that can be used by other libraries to enhance their productivity. The research methodology is using quantitative approach, and the research population is all university libraries in Surabaya, while the sample criterion is university libraries that have been conducting knowledge sharing regularly for at least 12 months. The main data is gathered by interviewing the head and staff of the libraries and knowledge sharing coordinators by using semi-structured questionnaires. The research results show that those libraries have different names of the knowledge-sharing programme, and they allocate regular time for knowledge sharing. Furthermore, some libraries use social media for knowledge sharing and building a knowledge worker group. All library staffs are encouraged to get involved in knowledge sharing. The aim of knowledge sharing is to share best practices and lesson learned, the librarians also share their knowledge about their daily task, how to solve problems, and ideas for library development. The knowledge sharing obstacles are that not many librarians can express their ideas (shy/ silent), and some of participants treat this sharing activity as a mandatory activity. However, those libraries did not implement open access for the knowledge that is created from knowledge sharing.

Keywords: Knowledge Sharing, University Library, Knowledge Sharing in Library, Knowledge Management

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