An Investigation of the Relationship between Knowledge Enabling Factors and Knowledge Creation among Librarians of Public Libraries

Knowledge creation in libraries with integrating knowledge capital and directly influencing organizational concepts, like customer care and organizational culture promotion can lead to the new knowledge. With particular attention to librarians as key pillars of libraries, the atmosphere of knowledge and creativity improves and it provides better services to users and improves services efficiency and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors enabling knowledge and knowledge creation among librarians in public libraries of Kurdistan province.

The research is an applied survey. Koloniari, Vraimaki and Fassoulis questionnaire was used to collect data. The statistical population consisted of all 120 public librarians of Kurdistan province in 2018.  Data were analyzed by statistical frequency, mean, variance, standard deviation, skewness, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests and the Durbin Watson test. 

Among the factors related to knowledge creation in public libraries, the implementation of knowledge strategy, organizational culture and information technology (with mean rate of 2.98), organizational structure (with mean rate of 2.87) and HRM (with mean rate of 2.2) are effective. In addition, there is a significant relationship between the implementation of knowledge strategy, organizational culture, organizational structure, human resource management and information technology with knowledge creation.

Due to an increasing competition among organizations, it is necessary for public library managers to consider the process of creating knowledge. The more creation and use of knowledge done at a faster pace and quality, the competitive advantage of the organization will be formed more than ever. Regarding the four types of knowledge creation and strategies, it is essential for librarians to convene regular meetings and it is also important to retrain knowledge and participate in seminars in order to be acquainted with modern knowledge.