Knowledge Management Practices in Academic Libraries: A Case of Jimma University Library System

In the present knowledge era, knowledge has become a key resource for the economy. Business organizations have to cope-up with the dynamic environment by using knowledge management. Knowledge management is important not only for profit organizations but also needed for nonprofit organizations like academic libraries to be competitive. Libraries are known for the knowledge management centers of their respective institutions and play the vital role for enhancing the higher education by providing the services.KM practices incorporate the thoughtful of knowledge management includes knowledge generation, acquisition, organization, storage, transfer, sharing, and knowledge retention.The rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) are said to be changing the way academic libraries operate today. Academic library’s collections are digital materials in multiple formats and media such as computers, multimedia and CDROMs are bringing unprecedented abilities to academic libraries in providing services and resources to the university community. The problem statement in this study will be that the JULS is providing a service that needs quality improvement as it does not adequately address challenges posed by a fast changing information environment.The main aim of the study is knowledge management practice in Jimma University Library System.The study will helps in finding out what KM practices are in place at JULS that are likely to help improve the performance of the library. 

Table Contents 

1.  Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 

2.  Background of the problem ..................................................................................................... 2 

2.1.  Knowledge management practices ................................................................................... 2 

2.2.  Knowledge Management in Academic Libraries ............................................................. 3 

2.3.  Issues facing by academic libraries .................................................................................. 4 

2.4.  Knowledge management in Ethiopia higher education ....................................................... 5 

2.5.  Jimma University Library System(JULS) ........................................................................ 6 

3.  Statement of the problems ....................................................................................................... 7 

4.  Research Objective .................................................................................................................. 9 

4.1.  General Objective ............................................................................................................. 9 

4.2.  Specific Objective ............................................................................................................ 9 

5.  Research question .................................................................................................................... 9 

5.1.  Central Research question ................................................................................................ 9 

5.2.  Specific Research Question .............................................................................................. 9 

6.  Significance of the study ....................................................................................................... 10 

7.  Scope of study ....................................................................................................................... 11 

8.  Research methodology .......................................................................................................... 11 

8.1.  Research Design ............................................................................................................. 11 

8.2. Sampling Method (Technique)........................................................................................... 12 

8.3. Source and Type Data ........................................................................................................ 12 

8.6. Data Analysis Procedure .................................................................................................... 13 

References ..................................................................................................................................... 14