A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2015 / Knowledge management (KM) is increasingly important for university library management and information services. Libraries have excelled in the management of explicit/tangible/recorded knowledge for many years, however, not as much in the management of tacit/intangible knowledge which is assumed to be more difficult to manage. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a crucial role for knowledge management in the academic libraries. Unfortunately, the knowledge of the role of ICT in KM in university libraries is limited generally, and in Nigeria and South Africa in particular. The purpose of the present study was to explore and examine the use of ICTs as tools for the support of KM in selected academic (university) libraries in Nigeria and South Africa. In accomplishing this, eight research objectives that were guided by nine research questions. Finally, three research hypotheses were examined. The research objectives were: establishing how knowledge management is practised by librarians in academic libraries of Nigeria and South Africa; exploring the available ICT facilities, KM tools, and services that can be used for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa; determining the extent to which librarians in Nigerian and South African university libraries utilise ICTs to support KM; investigating strategies that would promote the use of ICTs for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa; determining and comparing librarians’ knowledge and ICTs skills for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa; finding policies that guide the use of ICTs for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa; examining the challenges faced in the use of ICTs for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa; and recommending a conceptual model of the use of ICTs for the support of KM in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa. The study was informed by positivism and the interpretivism research paradigm. The quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interpretive and content analysis) research methods were employed. The population for the study consisted of all professional librarians in the two countries university libraries. The non-probability sampling, grounded on purposive and convenient/accidental sampling techniques, was used to select 171 professional libraries in the six university libraries. The six university libraries in the two countries were University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Delta State University, University of Zululand, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology). The six university libraries were selected on the basis of first generation universities and university ranking index in Africa, funding and resourcefulness of the institution (University of Ibadan library and University of KwaZulu-Natal library); Technological universities as practically oriented and the availability of facilities (Federal University of Technology library and Durban University of Technology library); as well as rurally based universities, government-owned and growing institutions (Delta State University library and University of Zululand library). The instruments for data collection used were the questionnaire, interview and observation methods. The professional librarians across the sampled university libraries in Nigeria and South Africa were administered 171 copies of structured questionnaires. While six key informants working in the university libraries in the two countries were interviewed. Observation methods were also used to gather information regarding the university libraries environment, physical structure and location, office space (conduciveness), availability and accessibility of computers and other ICT tools, collections (print and electronic resources), shelving space, size and lighting in the office and attitude of staff towards their work while with them. Of the 171 copies of questionnaires administered among the respondents, 132 (77.2%) were returned. The 132 (77.2%) returned consisted of 77 from university libraries in Nigeria, while 55 came from university libraries in South Africa. The 132 copies of returned questionnaire were subjected to statistical analysis of descriptive and inferential statistics.
The findings revealed that knowledge management practices (KMPs) involve all library operations, processes and services. There are variations in ICT and KM tools and services among the sampled university libraries as their level of development is not the same. The most available and accessible ICT and KM tools and services vary in terms of jobs undertaken by librarians from one university library to another. Old technologies such as computers, CD-ROMs, scanners, projectors, telephones, printers, and monitors appeared to be the most available and accessible tools across the selected university libraries in the two countries. South African university libraries were better resourced than the Nigerian university libraries in the sample. The availability and accessibility of ICT and KM tools and services appear to be in greater effect, as librarians were able to use them to carry out library operations and other management functions. The university libraries sampled tend to use updated ICTs/KM tools including smart boards, semantic web-tools, information retrieval tools, database management systems, management systems for electronic documents, and management information systems for improved library and information management of the organizations. The use of these tools became necessary as current practices in information services have equally changed. It was established that various strategies have been used to train and foster innovation and growth in the library organizations. These strategies have affected the university libraries organizational culture, work environment, management support systems, librarians’ knowledge, and access to information. In order for librarians to cope with the emerging knowledge and skills levels in information service requirements in university libraries, continuing education and training is necessary. The main challenges that affected the use of ICTs in supporting KM in the sampled university libraries included: inadequate funding; lack of motivation; lack of infrastructure; the loss of LIS practitioners to other professions; language barriers; and the inability to work independently. However, the inadequacy of professional staff was noticed in all cases.
It was found that the role(s), for which ICTs play an indispensible tool, in present day library organizations, cannot be overemphasized. ICTs are used to manage knowledge in diverse ways: acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination of large volumes of information resources, stored in university libraries’ institutional repositories. It can also be used to access and retrieve knowledge from library websites without the need for a physical visitation to the library building. Different strategies have emerged where social networks are used to promote library products and services. Library professionals have equally shifted from being custodians of information and knowledge to facilitators of library resources and services through the attendance of workshops, seminars and conferences. The exposure to workshops, seminars and conferences has enabled librarians to be more knowledgeable and skilled in managing knowledge through the use of ICT tools in the university libraries that were sampled. The study concluded that, knowledge management practices in the academic libraries are diverse, and include the management of both tacit (apprenticeship and mentoring and mentoring of information service providers and training of the library users for effective information access and use, particularly academics who produce new knowledge) and explicit knowledge. ICTs play a major role in the KM activities and processes but re-skilling of both information service providers and the library users is essential at all times in order to counter the rapid changes in information access, service and use of the environment. The challenges that are highlighted in the current study are largely known, however, should be handled boldly and with more immediacy than before.
The study recommends the need to create more awareness of KMPs among librarians in academic libraries. The acquisition of new ICTs and KM tools for better access and use of information services should also be intensified. Staff development through formal, informal and continuing education should be supported. The work of university committees that are charged with coordinating, monitoring and evaluating library services should enable the improvement of the library services. The LIS schools have to step up LIS education to meet the current information service requirements in their curriculum. The management body of academic libraries should set up staff member committee to review and evaluate ICT policies on regular basis to meet their demand. Relevant library stakeholders should be involved in KM activities of the library where such bodies do not exist. TAM should be considered for informing ICT access and use for KM in the academic libraries. / Nigerian Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/1470 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Enakrire, Rexwhite Tega |
| Contributors | Ocholla, D.N. |
| Publisher | University of Zululand |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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