The Role of Librarians in Knowledge Management Practices for Effective User Service Delivery in Academic Libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study explores the Role of the Librarian in Knowledge Management Practices in academic libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria using a Descriptive Survey Design, the data collected was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPPS 16.0 software. Census sampling technique was adopted on the total 121 professional librarians; valid returned rate of 89 (73.6%) questionnaires was used for the analysis. The study found out that Knowledge Management has high level of awareness, practice and is supportive by the professional librarians (70.3%), with only two Knowledge Management tools Enterprise portal Web sites and E-Learning tools software applicable to academic libraries. The study found out that the role of professional librarians in KM practices include IT role, Dissemination of Shared Knowledge (3.16 mean mark) and the role of Communication and Creativeness (3.87 mean marks) while KM enhances effective user service delivery through enhancing Knowledge Innovation Management of tacit knowledge (3.33 mean mark) and facilitating knowledge sharing using technologies without any geographical limitation (3.85 mean marks). The Linear Regression Analysis shows a very strong correlation between the Roles of Professional Librarians in KM practices and the benefits of KM practices in enhancing effective user service delivery in academic libraries (r=0.953 p value<.05).

Keywords:Knowledge Management, Academic Library, KM Tools, KM Practice