Knowledge Management for Service Innovation in Academic Libraries

Knowledge management in academic libraries encompasses the systematic creation, capture, organisation and sharing of both explicit and tacit knowledge to drive the development of new services and improve existing ones. It integrates leadership commitment, formal policies and technology to foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and evidence‐based decision‐making. Key activities include codification of expertise into repositories and databases, personalisation through mentorship and communities of practice, metadata curation and deployment of digital platforms. By mapping user needs and scholarly workflows, libraries can rapidly prototype services such as subject‐specific research guides, data management support and personalised information literacy modules. Global case studies—from resource‐limited institutions leveraging mobile tools and peer networks to research‐intensive universities employing analytics and AI‐driven knowledge discovery—illustrate how tailored KM interventions enhance user engagement, streamline resource discovery and preserve institutional memory. The ongoing evolution of KM for service innovation points towards interoperable information ecosystems, predictive analytics for demand forecasting and integration with teaching and research infrastructures.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Knowledge Management for Service Innovation in Academic Libraries publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in knowledge management for service innovation in academic libraries across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Knowledge Management: Structured processes for creating, capturing, organising and sharing knowledge to enhance organisational performance and innovation.

Service Innovation: Development or significant improvement of library services, processes or delivery models driven by user insights and knowledge assets.

Codification Strategy: Method for converting implicit expertise into explicit, retrievable formats such as documents, databases or digital repositories.

Community of Practice: Group of practitioners who share experiences, solve problems collectively and exchange tacit knowledge within a common domain.

LibGuides: Web-based content management system used by libraries to curate and present subject-specific research guides, integrating resources, commentary and expertise.

References

1. Knowledge management as a change enabler in academic libraries in the digital age. South African Journal of Information Management (2022).
2. Strategies and tools for knowledge management practices in selected academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa. South African Journal of Information Management (2020).
3. Knowledge Management Organization in the Context of LibGuides of Sumy State University Library. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AT A NEW STAGE OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (2023).