Knowledge management and the library scientist

Abstract

The change brought about by new information and communication technologies (NICT) has given rise to a new society, the so-called information society, which, in its turn, within the frame of the management of new resources, is called the knowledge society. It is in this context that serious problems arise affecting this movement, since more and more information is generated ever more quickly and without any kind of control. The most widespread medium, Internet, provides access to any user anywhere. This has created a new work context for the library and information scientist who becomes a key instrument, as s/he is in charge of managing all the mediatic content and enhancing information to enable the user to give rapid feedback. For this reason the library scientist is still the intermediary between information and the user. What is more, s/he is also responsible for the teaching of information management. In this environment, it is vital to develop structures for the organisation and representation of knowledge in a suitable way, both for the receptor (the user/client) and for the professional who has to deal with it. For both, how knowledge is organised is of paramount importance for the success of his/her activity. The aim of the present study is to examine the process of managing and organising knowledge as a strategy in the information manager’s documentary tasks, in his/her strategic and decision-making roles, as well as in his/her development of processes and products.