Developing knowledge innovation culture of libraries

Abstract

PurposeThe paper aims to focus on the definition, meaning and functions of knowledge innovation culture (KIC) of libraries, its influencing factors and some strategies to develop it.Design/methodology/approachThe paper gives a definition of KIC, discusses its meaning and functions, analyzes several influencing factors, and suggests some strategies and provides a case study.FindingsThe paper finds that the KIC of libraries is a kind of value, behavior and institutional system, which gains competitive advantages and sustainable development of libraries through knowledge creation. This kind of culture is different form traditional library culture and has several specific functions. Some factors like environment, resources and business may affect the development of KIC of libraries. Therefore, it is necessary for libraries to establish environment beneficial to knowledge innovation, enhance trust and cooperation within staffs, create a kind of learning culture, shape knowledge‐based team organization, enhance human resource development and cultivate knowledge innovation talents in order to build up KIC of libraries.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates how libraries can develop KIC.

Effect of knowledge management on service innovation in academic libraries

“…Innovation in academic libraries has moved from a consideration to a necessity (Brundy, 2015). A few studies have looked at innovation in different areas of academic libraries – relationship between library size and innovation in digital reference services (White, 2001), knowledge innovation culture (Sheng and Sun, 2007), innovation ideas in academic libraries (Jing and Jin, 2009) and customer role for service innovation (Scupola and Nicolajsen, 2010). By facilitating open access publishing, Utrecht University Library has become involved in research data management, which helps them provide new services, for example giving advice on where to find other people’s research data (Elves, 2015).…”

Service innovation in academic libraries: is there a place for the customers?

“…This paper contributes to the debate on innovation in libraries by particularly focusing on user roles. Other studies have focused on innovation in libraries, but they have taken different perspectives such as employee creativity (Castiglione, 2008), developing knowledge innovation culture in libraries (Sheng and Sun, 2007) or changing customer demands and library's ability to innovate and respond to them (Brindley, 2006;Li, 2006).…”

Conceptualizing value co-creation for service innovation in academic libraries

“…Studies on service innovation in academic libraries include analyses of the impact of organizational structure on the rate of innovation (Howard, 1977), the relationship between library size and innovation in digital reference services (White, 2001), developing a knowledge innovation culture (Sheng and Sun, 2007), innovation ideas (Jing and Jin, 2009), multiple facets of an innovation strategy (Rowley, 2011), customer role (Cupola, 2010), emerging technologies and the innovation in digital library (Cervone, 2010), and leadership, organizational size, complexity, and environmental factors (Jantz, 2011).…”