KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: THE CASE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA LIBRARY

Abstract

The University of Botswana (UB) has articulated its intention to capitalise on its information and
communication technology (ICT) network system and library and information services to set up a
comprehensive knowledge management system (KMS). Research has however established that
most of these endeavours fail because of poor knowledge sharing practices in organisations since
organisations do not have knowledge-oriented leadership which creates a conducive environment
for knowledge sharing. This interpretive study therefore used the UB main campus library as a
case study to investigate knowledge sharing practices in the institution. The qualitative study
adopted the stagewise thematic map theoretical framework to guide the investigation into factors
that affect knowledge sharing in the University of Botswana Library (UBL). Findings show that
there are organisational factors that impede knowledge sharing practices in the library. The study
recommends that strategies should be set up to facilitate knowledge sharing and knowledge
management practices in the library.