CURRENT STAGE OF APPLICATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN ROMANIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
CURRENT STAGE OF APPLICATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN ROMANIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Summary/Abstract: One of the debate topics in recent library literature is the reconfiguration of the managerial style, the new organization and functioning models of the info-documentary structures which could meet the requirements and characteristics of the digital society and the current needs of users for quality information services. Along with these aspects the new professional profiles of library specialists, the new roles which they should play and the skills needed are also addressed. Knowledge management, a process which has also been applied lately in the library world, and which supports organizational development, innovation and fosters collaboration and teamwork, is one of the possible successful models. A knowledge management strategy could prove to be an all-inclusive solution for libraries in the digital age. In this context, starting from the results of an interview based study, conducted with directors of academic libraries and heads of academic library branches in Romania, this paper evaluates the current stage in Romanian academic libraries in terms of understanding the importance of knowledge management and the implementation thereof within these institutions. Taking into account the results obtained in 2004, during the first research conducted in Romania on the subject of knowledge management at the level of the info-documentary structures and the strategic model proposed for the implementation of this process in Romanian libraries, and designed on the basis of researches conducted over several years in these institutions, the analysis of results obtained herein indicates a deep awareness of the importance of knowledge management application in libraries but a small progress in its effective implementation within the academic libraries in Romania, as well as a feeble concern in this regard from library directors.

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