The Status of Knowledge Management Application in Librarians of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Knowledge management as a new subject has created a new approach in facilitating education and research and providing more desirable services. Libraries and information centers in educational environments are the best places for implementing the knowledge management programs to improve education and research and share knowledge. The study aimed to investigate the status of knowledge management application in libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences based on the Bukowitz and Williams’s model. Methods: This descriptive survey was conducted on all librarians working in libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (83 people) in the academic year 89-90. Data collection was via a researcher- made questionnaire which was constructed based on the components of the Bukowitz and Williams’s model, and its validity and reliability were confirmed. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used for data analysis. Results: The mean score of knowledge management application in the academic libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences based on Bukowitz and Williams’s model (2.82± .477) was lower than the theoretical average. Also different components of knowledge management were not implemented equally. There was not a significant difference between mean scores of the subjects regarding demographic factors, i.e. gender, discipline, work experience, level of education, type of work, but there was a statistically significant difference between the score of “learning” according to the type of library (P<0/05). Conclusion: Most of the components depicted in Bukowitz and Williams’s model were lower than average, thus need more planning and attention, particularly knowledge sharing and knowledge creation components. Considering the increasing importance of knowledge in organizations such as universities and health environments where knowledge sharing is very important, implementing these programs will result in better services and thus facilitation of learning, education, and research.