A Library or Information Center
A note on terminology: Discussions have gone on for as long as we can remember about the best way to name an organizational unit providing information services. The concern that "library" would connote dusty books drove a trend toward variants of "knowledge center" - with the occasional anecdotes that employees did not understand the meaning of the new name and mistook it to refer to, say, an employee training center ("oh you mean the library - why didn't you say so?"). The discussion's longevity underscores the never ending need to raise awareness among employees about the services a library / information center offers.
In choosing an approach to information support for knowledge workers, executives may regard a library or information center as one element in such support; other options exist. Here are some considerations I have touched on in past articles and presentations:
IF THERE IS NO LIBRARY / INFORMATION CENTER IN THE ORGANIZATION
9a. Is it known know how knowledge workers are getting the information they need?
9b. Are the productivity implications of current independent practices known - for example, could the information gathering task be carried out by others while employees focus on interpretation? (It is possible the subject matter at hand is so specialized that only domain experts are able to research what sources are "out there" and mine them.)
9c. What is said by employees who came from organizations where they could consult with information experts?
IF THERE IS ONE
9d. Do knowledge workers understand the full range of services offered, and to what degree and for what reasons do they make use of them?
9e. How do department managers ensure their team members take advantage of the research expertise in the library?
9f. Has an assessment been done to ensure alignment between employee needs and library services and to review library activity emphasis in light of the evolving operational and business environment?
Next in the series: Summation
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