Providing a proposed protocol to preserve indigenous knowledge in rural libraries

Indigenous knowledge is an experiential, verbal and mental knowledge. It is difficult to compile because the implied knowledge is hidden and is neglected and subject to destruction with the advent of modern science and the progress of societies. This study aimed to propose and provide a protocol to document, preserve and promote South Khorasan villagers’ indigenous knowledge in rural libraries.

Grounded theory method was performed. Data were collected based on a semi-structured interview from 3 different samples, including a sample of 20 rural males and 10 rural females, a sample of 8 rural librarians, and finally a sample of 3 governmental officers informed in indigenous knowledge in South Khorasan province. The study validity was confirmed by peer feedback, detailed and rich explanations, and external reviewers. The study reliability was strengthened by imaging and sound recording and verbatim taking notes along with transliteration.

Based on the results, many organizations are able to work in order to preserve and promote indigenous knowledge. In the meantime, as rural libraries are the nearest centers for preserving knowledge in the country, they can motivate and increase the professional, technical, research and verbal skills of their librarians, and play a coordinating role among other organizations, with documentation of indigenous knowledge in both digital and print formats. The yielded protocol was the most important outcome of this study which was based on four principles of expertise, commitment, interaction and balance, and in which ten stages, including identification, selection, learning, communication, action, implementation, monitoring, recording, organization and access were offered to document, preserve and promote indigenous knowledge of villagers in rural libraries of South Khorasan.

Paying attention to the role of the libraries, especially rural libraries, is a new subject in documenting, preserving or disseminating indigenous knowledge and proposing a protocol for this aim can be beneficial and applicable in Iran.