Identifying the Role of Libraries in Indigenous Knowledge Management: A Meta-Synthesize Study

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Dept of Knowledge and Information Science Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

2 Dept of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

3 Dept of Educational Science, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science University Of Birjand Birjand Iran

10.30484/nastinfo.2024.3624.2283

Abstract

Purpose: Indigenous knowledge management refers to identifying, organizing, and disseminating indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge management can play an important and effective role in the economic, social, and cultural development and progress of any region. Libraries are arteries of expertise, and librarians are mediators of knowledge. According to their activity, professional mission, and assigned duties, they can play an important role in indigenous knowledge management. Therefore, the current research was conducted to identify the role of libraries in indigenous knowledge management.
Method: The current research was applied in terms of purpose and qualitative using the meta-synthesis method with the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barroso. In this way, the role of libraries in indigenous knowledge management was extracted and counted from related articles with a meta-synthesis of central concepts and categories. Nineteen years (from 2004 to 2023) were considered for the search. The thematic focus of the research was articles on libraries' role in indigenous knowledge management. After determining the research question, a comprehensive search was conducted based on the meta-combination method through systematic review. For this purpose, an attempt was made to search the resources published in English, including articles in Scopus, Emerald, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Taylor and Francis databases. A critical evaluation tool was used to determine the validity of the composite method and to determine the reliability, the agreement method between two coders was used.
Findings: The coding process was conducted in three open, central, and selective stages. In this order, the number of codes after refining reached 290, 36 concepts, and five categories. Based on the results, the central role of libraries in managing indigenous knowledge with the concepts of professional mission, program development, human resources, target community, and facilities among 32 studies was extracted and counted.
Conclusion: In general, the research results showed that libraries can play an essential and influential role in local knowledge management regarding their professional mission and assigned tasks if they benefit from the cooperation of people, officials, and related organizations. Proper local knowledge management by various libraries can provide economic and cultural development for local areas in society. The present research has extracted and calculated the role of libraries in local knowledge management in an integrated and profound way using the meta-combination method. This is even though previous research could not identify and present these roles in an integrated and coherent manner. The findings of this research have various potential applications: 1. Strengthening and preserving indigenous knowledge through the identified roles of libraries. 2. Providing useful insights for policymakers and decision-makers in the library sector. 3. Laying the foundation for developing a tool to measure the role of libraries in indigenous knowledge management. 4. Serving as the basis for designing an educational protocol for librarians.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

سلطان‌آبادی، مرضیه (1396). قابلیت‌های حفاظت و اشاعه منابع میراث فرهنگی ناملموس توسط کتابخانه­های عمومی ایران و ارائه راهکارهای پیشنهادی ]پایان­نامه کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه بیرجند[ https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir
فروتنی، سولماز (1393). نقش کتابخانه­های روستایی در مستندسازی، حفظ و اشاعه دانش بومی روستائیان خراسان جنوبی و ارائه پروتکل پیشنهادی ]پایان­نامه کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه بیرجند[ https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir
قاسمی‌پور، مریم (1400). شناسایی کتابداران و کتابخانه‌ها در مدیریت دانش بومی با استفاده از روش فراترکیب]پایان‌نامه کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه بیرجند[ https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir
References
Abioye, A. A., Zaid, Y. A., & Egberongbe, H. S. (2014). Documenting and Disseminating Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Food Security: The Efforts of Agricultural Research Libraries in Nigeri. Libri, 64(1), 75-84. DOI:10.1515/libri-2014-0007.
Afful-Arthur, P., Kwafoa, P. N. Y., Ampah-Johnston, M., & Mensah, V. (2022). Managing and accessing indigenous knowledge for national development: The role of academic libraries in Ghana. Information Development, 38(4), 535–548. DOI:10.1177/02666669211009916.
Brown, K. (2017). The Role of an Indigenous Nations Library Program and the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledge. Collection Management, 42(3-4), 167-207. DOI:10.1080/01462679.2017.1367342.
Byrne, A. (2005). Indigenous Knowledge and Libraries: An Afterword. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 36(2), 201-205. DOI:10.1080/00048623.2005.10721260.
Catalano, A. (2013). Patterns of graduate students' information seeking behavior: a meta‐synthesis of the literature. Journal of documentation, 69(2), 243-274. DOI:10.1108/00220411311300066.
Chery, A., & Mukunda, K. (2015). A Case Study in Indigenous Classification: Revisiting and Reviving the Brian Deer Scheme. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 53(5), 548-567. DOI:10.1080/01639374.2015.1008717.
Chigwada, J., & Ngulube, P. (2023). Stakeholders in the acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of indigenous knowledge projects. Information Development. Epub ahead of print 7 August 2023. DOI:10.1177/02666669231192851.
Ford, P. L., Prior, J., Coat, B., & Warton, L. (2014). The Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge LibGuide: Charles Darwin University Embedding Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge, Culture and Language. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 45(2), 111-120. DOI:10.1080/00048623.2014.910859.
Forutani, S., Nowkarizi, M., Kiani, M. R., & Mokhtari Aski, H. R. (2018). The Role of Rural Libraries in Preserving the Indigenous Knowledge of Rural Residents (The case of South Khorasan Province). World Journal of Science Technology and Sustainable Development, 15(3), 245-256. DOI:10.1108/WJSTSD-12-2017-0044.
Forutani, S. (2014). The role of rural libraries in documenting, preserving and disseminating native knowledge of South Khorasan villagers and presenting the proposed protocol. Master's thesis, Birjand University. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir. [In Persian]
Ghasemipoor, M. (2021). Identification of librarians and libraries in local knowledge management using metacombination method. Master's thesis, Birjand University. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir. [In Persian]
Grayling, E., & Zulu, S. (2010). Content Development in an Indigenous Digital Library: A Case Study in Community Participation. International Federation of Library Associations and Institution, 36(1), 30- 39. DOI:10.1177/0340035209359570.
Haines, J., Du, J. T., & Trevorrow, E. (2018). In Search of Indigenous Wisdom and Interdisciplinary Ways of Learning Together. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 67(3), 293-306. DOI:10.1080/24750158.2018.1488358.
Hajibayova, L., & Buente, W. (2017). Representation of Indigenous Cultures: Considering the Hawaiian Hula. Journal of Documentation, 73(6), 1137-1148. DOI:10.1108/jd-01-2017-0010.
Joranson, K. (2008). Indigenous Knowledge and the Knowledge Commons. The International Information & Library Review, 40(1), 64-72. DOI:10.1080/10572317.2008.10762763.
Kanaujia Sukula, S. (2005). Indigenous Database Development in Indian Research and Development Library and Information Centres. Online Information Review, 29(2), 193-207. DOI:10.1108/14684520510598057.
Kanaujia Sukula, S. (2006). Developing Indigenous Knowledge Databases in India. The Electronic Library, 24(1), 83- 93. DOI:10.1108/02640470610649263.
Kargbo, J. A. (2005). Managing Indigenous Knowledge: What Role for Public Librarians in Sierra Leone?. The International Information & Library Review, 37(3), 199-207. DOI:10.1080/10572317.2005.10762681.
Kelbessa, W. (2022). African worldviews, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Environmental Values, 31(5), 575–598. DOI:10.3197/096327121X16328186623922.
Kostelecky, S. R., Hurley, D. A., Menus, J., & Aguilar, D. (2017). Centering Indigenous Knowledge: Three Southwestern Tribal College and University Library Collections. Collection Development, 42(3-4), 180-195. DOI:10.1080/01462679.2017.1327914.
Lilley, S., & Paringatai, T. P. (2014). Kia Whai Taki: Implementing Indigenous Knowledge in the Aotearoa New Zealand Library and Information Management Curriculum. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 45(2), 139-146. DOI:10.1080/00048623.2014.908498.
Lwoga, E. T. (2011). Knowledge Management Approaches in Managing Agricultural Indigenous and Exogenous Knowledge in Tanzania. Journal of Documentation, 67(3), 407-430. DOI:10.1108/00220411111124523.
Lwoga, E. T., Ngulube, P., & Stilwell, C. (2010). Managing Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Developing Countries: Knowledge Management Approaches in the Social Context. The International Information & Library Review, 42(3), 174-185. DOI:10.1080/10572317.2010.10762862.
Maina, C. K. (2012). Traditional Knowledge Management and Preservation: Intersections with Library and Information Science. The International Information & Library Review, 44(1), 13-27.  DOI:10.1080/10572317.2012.10762911.
Masenya, T. M. (2022). Digital preservation of indigenous knowledge in South African rural communities. In: Rendani T and Tshimangadzo JM (eds) Handbook of Research on Protecting and Managing Global Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 317–340. DOI:10.4018/978-1-7998-7492-8.ch017.
Mdhluli, T. D., Mokgoatšana, S., Kugara S. L., & Vuma, L. (2021). Knowledge management: Preserving, managing and sharing indigenous knowledge through digital library. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 77(2), a6795. DOI:10. 4102/hts.v77i2.6795.
Moahi, K. H. (2012). Promoting African Indigenous Knowledge in the Knowledge Economy. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, 64(5), 540-554.  DOI:10.1108/00012531211263157.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta - Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 151(4), 264-269. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-4-200908180-00135
Nakata, M., Byrne, A., Nakata, V., & Gardiner, G. (2005a). Indigenous Knowledge, the Library and Information Service Sector, and Protocols. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 36(2), 7-21.  DOI:10.1080/00048623.2005.10721244.
Nakata, M., Byrne, A., Nakata, V., & Gardiner, G. (2005b). Libraries, Indigenous Australians and a Developing Protocols Strategy for the Library and Information Sector. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 36(2), 185-199.  DOI:10.1080/00048623.2005.10721259.
Nakata, N. M. (2007). Indigenous Digital Collections. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 38(2), 99-110.  DOI:10.1080/00048623.2007.10721280.
Naseri, Z., & Noruzi, A. (2018). Content Marketing Process Model: A Meta- Synthesis of the Literature. Webology, 15(1), 8- 18. http://www.webology.org/2018/v15n1/a161.
Okorafor, C. N. (2010). Challenges Confronting Libraries in Documentation and Communication of Indigenous Knowledge in Nigeria. The International Information & Library Review, 42(1), 8-13.  DOI:10.1080/10572317.2010.10762837.
Olaopa, O. R., & Ayodele, O. A. (2022). Building on the strengths of African indigenous knowledge and innovation (AIK&I) for sustainable development in Africa. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 14(5), 1313–1326. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.1080/20421338.2021.1950111.
Padmasiri, G. R. (2017). Management of Indigenous Knowledge in Sri Lanka, with Special Reference to Indigenous Medicine. Information Development, 34(5), 1-14. DOI:10.1177/0266666917721594
Pilot, J. (2005). Developing Indigenous Knowledge Centres. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 36(2), 37-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2005.10721247.
Rao, S. S. (2006). Indigenous Knowledge Organization: An Indian Scenario. International Journal of Information Management, 26(3), 224-233.  DOI:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2006.02.003.
Raseroka, K. (2008). Information Transformation Africa: Indigenous Knowledge – Securing Space in the Knowledge Society. The International Information & Library Review, 40(4), 243-250.  DOI:10.1080/10572317.2008.10762789
Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2007). Handbook for Synthesizing Qualitive Research. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Sandy, H. M., & Bossaller, J. (2017). Providing Cognitively Just Subject Access to Indigenous Knowledge through Knowledge Organization Systems. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 55(3), 129-152. DOI:10.1080/01639374.2017.1281858.
Seifi, L., & Soltanabadi, M. (2020). Iranian Public Libraries’ Capacities in Preserving and Disseminating Intangible Cultural Heritage. IFLA Journal, 46(4), 359-368. DOI:10.1177/0340035219886608.
Sen, B. (2005). Indigenous Knowledge for Development: Bringing Research and Practice Together. The International Information & Library Review, 37(4), 375-382. DOI:10.1080/10572317.2005.10762695.
Seneviratne, W. (2004). Local Information Upload Strategy in Building up Rural Community Information Pages on the Internet: An Approach to Attending the Information Needs of Rural Sri Lanka. The International Information & Library Review, 36(3), 241-252. DOI:10.1016/j.iilr.2003.10.012.
Soltanabadi, M. (2017). Capabilities of protecting and disseminating intangible cultural heritage resources by Iran's public libraries and providing suggested solutions. Master's thesis, Birjand University. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir. [In Persian]
Stevens, A. (2008). A Different Way of Knowing: Tools and Strategies for Managing Indigenous Knowledge. Libri, 58(1), 25-33. DOI:10.1515/libr.2008.003.
Tella, R. D. (2007). Towards Promotion and Dissemination of Indigenous Knowledge: A Case of NIRD. The International Information & Library Review, 39(3-4), 185-193. DOI:10.1080/10572317.2007.10762748.
Thorpe, K., & Galassi, M. (2014). Rediscovering Indigenous Languages: The Role and Impact of Libraries and Archives in Cultural Revitalization. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 45(2), 81-100. DOI:10.1080/00048623.2014.910858.
Ugwoke, B. U. (2013). Promoting Nigerian Agriculture through Library and Information Services. International Journal of Information Management, 33(3), 564-566. DOI:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2013.02.002.10.1080/01639374.2015.1009670
Whaanga, H., Bainbridge, D., Anderson, M., Scrivener, K., Cader, P., Roa, T., & Keegan, T. T. (2015). He Matapihi Mā Mua, Mō Muri: The Ethics, Processes, and Procedures Associated with the Digitization of Indigenous Knowledge The Pei Jones Collection. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 53(5-6), 520-547. Doi:10.1080/01639374.2015.1009670
 
Send comment about this article
CAPTCHA Image

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 11 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 27 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 19 October 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics