COVID, Disinformation, Technology, Budget Cuts: Can Knowledge Management Help Libraries Overcome Challenges?

Abstract

COVID-19 affected libraries and accelerated online library services. Technology, disinformation, and fake news, along with shrinking budgets created additional challenges. Embracing knowledge management (KM) can be one of the ways through which libraries can survive, but also innovate, grow, and thrive. Through an open-ended survey of 109 librarians from 21 countries, this study investigated library challenges and perceptions of librarians on whether KM can help mitigate some of these challenges. The study found that libraries continue to face a myriad of challenges, many linked to budget constraints. More than half of the participants had heard of KM before and indicated having a knowledge sharing culture, top management support, and technology infrastructure for knowledge sharing. About 40 % said they did not have KM practices. Most felt that adopting KM should be helpful to the library. The proposed model of perceived helpfulness of KM should enable KM mechanisms for the library.