Knowledge Management, Diversity, and Professional Hierarchies in Libraries

Abstract

The structure and culture of libraries present distinct challenges for promoting knowledge sharing among staff. Existing knowledge management literature is largely focused on for-profit businesses, overlooking issues found in public institutions. This article summarizes some key organizational culture theories and related obstacles to successful knowledge management and highlights how the departmental design and staffing of many libraries inadvertently reinforces these problems. The concerns discussed include insufficient diversity in decision making, the stratification of knowledge along professional lines, and entrenched personal and group identities. Some practical solutions are offered, along with suggestions for future areas of research.

KEYWORDS:

• tacit knowledge
• innovation
• communities of practice
• librarians
• library technicians
• education