Knowledge is a fundamental asset for individuals and organizations, particularly in the context of libraries and information management. Understanding the different types of knowledge helps in better organizing, managing, and utilizing it effectively. Broadly, knowledge can be categorized into several types based on its form, source, and application. These categories include tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, procedural knowledge, declarative knowledge, and more. Below is a detailed explanation of these different types.
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1. Tacit Knowledge
Definition: Tacit knowledge is personal, context-specific, and often difficult to formalize or communicate. It is the type of knowledge that individuals acquire through experience, practice, and intuition, and it is deeply embedded in an individual's actions, skills, and mental models.
Characteristics:
Subjective: It is deeply rooted in personal experiences, insights, and perspectives.
Difficult to Codify: Unlike explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge is difficult to document or articulate in words. It is often conveyed through demonstrations, mentorship, or personal interaction.
Context-Specific: It often emerges from specific contexts and cannot be generalized easily across different situations.
Examples:
The ability of a librarian to help a user find the right resources based on intuition and experience.
A skilled worker’s expertise in performing a task that they have learned over many years, such as troubleshooting equipment or managing complex user queries.
Importance in Libraries: Tacit knowledge in libraries includes librarians' professional judgment, user needs assessment, and customer service skills. It plays a key role in decision-making, problem-solving, and delivering personalized services.
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2. Explicit Knowledge
Definition: Explicit knowledge is knowledge that is easily articulated, documented, and shared. It can be codified, stored, and transferred through various media, such as books, reports, manuals, databases, and websites.
Characteristics:
Objective: Explicit knowledge is more structured and can be shared without distortion.
Easy to Document: It can be written down, recorded, or digitized.
Transferable: Explicit knowledge can be transferred across individuals or organizations through documents, training materials, or software systems.
Examples:
Library catalogs, research articles, policy manuals, and instructional guides.
Standard operating procedures or best practice documents.
Importance in Libraries: Explicit knowledge in libraries includes resources such as books, journals, databases, and online learning materials. It is essential for sharing knowledge across different users and maintaining an organized and accessible repository of information.
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3. Procedural Knowledge (Know-How)
Definition: Procedural knowledge, or "know-how," refers to the understanding of how to perform specific tasks or processes. This type of knowledge is focused on actions and is often acquired through experience, practice, or training.
Characteristics:
Action-Oriented: Procedural knowledge is concerned with the methods or techniques used to accomplish tasks.
Experience-Based: It is typically learned through repetition and hands-on experience.
Task-Specific: It is often tied to specific tasks and can vary depending on the environment and context.
Examples:
How to use a library management system (LMS) to check out books or access digital resources.
The steps involved in cataloging new books or digitizing archives.
Importance in Libraries: Procedural knowledge is crucial for library staff who need to perform specific tasks such as managing collections, assisting users, and maintaining digital systems. It helps ensure smooth daily operations and effective service delivery.
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4. Declarative Knowledge (Know-What)
Definition: Declarative knowledge, or "know-what," refers to knowledge about facts and information that can be stated clearly. It involves understanding principles, concepts, and factual information that does not require performing any specific task.
Characteristics:
Factual: It consists of facts and data that are descriptive and factual.
Easily Expressed: This knowledge can be easily communicated and stored in documents, databases, and other informational formats.
Non-Actionable: Unlike procedural knowledge, declarative knowledge does not directly involve performing actions.
Examples:
The names of authors, the dates of publication of books, or the historical background of a particular topic.
The classification system used in libraries (e.g., Dewey Decimal Classification) or the names of library resources.
Importance in Libraries: Declarative knowledge is fundamental in libraries as it encompasses the basic facts, cataloging systems, subject areas, and references that users and staff need for information retrieval. It supports research, resource discovery, and educational services.
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5. Contextual Knowledge
Definition: Contextual knowledge refers to the understanding of the environment, circumstances, or background in which certain actions or decisions take place. It includes knowledge of the situation or setting in which knowledge is applied.
Characteristics:
Situation-Specific: It takes into account the broader context in which an event or action occurs.
Interdisciplinary: Often incorporates elements from different domains or areas of knowledge.
Guides Decision-Making: Contextual knowledge helps in making informed decisions that are sensitive to the surrounding circumstances.
Examples:
Understanding the needs of library users based on their academic background or the nature of their research.
Knowledge of the institutional or organizational context in which a library operates, such as budget constraints, community needs, or technological infrastructure.
Importance in Libraries: Contextual knowledge helps library professionals assess user needs and make decisions that are tailored to specific communities or organizational goals. It is critical for the development of services and programs that are relevant and impactful.
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6. Embedded Knowledge
Definition: Embedded knowledge refers to knowledge that is ingrained in systems, processes, or practices rather than being explicitly recorded. This knowledge is often internalized within the structures of an organization.
Characteristics:
Incorporated into Systems: It is part of established routines, policies, technologies, and workflows.
Tied to Organizational Processes: It resides in the culture and procedures of the organization.
Difficult to Separate: It is typically embedded within processes and systems, making it difficult to separate or formalize.
Examples:
The standard operating procedures (SOPs) that guide staff behavior and organizational operations.
Knowledge embedded in library systems, such as how the automated cataloging system integrates various workflows.
Importance in Libraries: Embedded knowledge within libraries includes internal workflows, system designs, and procedures that guide how library resources are managed and accessed. It helps streamline operations and maintain consistency in service delivery.
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7. Experiential Knowledge
Definition: Experiential knowledge is gained through direct personal experience. It is often tacit and accumulates over time as individuals interact with their environment and learn from practical encounters.
Characteristics:
Learned Through Action: It is often learned by doing, through firsthand involvement rather than through theoretical learning.
Reflective: People develop experiential knowledge by reflecting on their experiences and understanding how to handle similar situations in the future.
Hands-On: It often includes practical skills and insights that are gained through active participation.
Examples:
A librarian's ability to manage difficult reference queries based on past experience.
Knowledge of how to resolve technical issues with library equipment through troubleshooting, which is learned over time.
Importance in Libraries: Experiential knowledge is valuable in libraries because it supports effective problem-solving, resource management, and user support. Library staff can use their past experiences to navigate complex issues, provide tailored assistance, and innovate services.
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8. Collective Knowledge
Definition: Collective knowledge refers to the knowledge shared and developed by a group or community. It involves pooling individual knowledge to create a broader understanding or solution.
Characteristics:
Collaborative: Collective knowledge emerges through collaboration and interaction within groups, teams, or communities.
Aggregated Knowledge: It is the result of aggregating individual insights, experiences, and expertise.
Dynamic: Collective knowledge is continuously updated and evolves as people contribute new information.
Examples:
Knowledge generated in collaborative library projects, such as community-driven research initiatives or collaborative cataloging efforts.
The body of knowledge produced through library networks, where resources and information are shared across different institutions.
Importance in Libraries: Collective knowledge helps libraries foster community engagement, share best practices, and improve resource management. Collaborative projects, interlibrary cooperation, and joint initiatives enhance the collective intelligence of the library community and provide better services to users.
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Conclusion
The different types of knowledge—tacit, explicit, procedural, declarative, contextual, embedded, experiential, and collective—each play a significant role in the functioning and growth of libraries. A comprehensive understanding of these types of knowledge helps libraries effectively capture, share, and apply knowledge to enhance services, improve user satisfaction, and support continuous learning and innovation. By managing these types of knowledge efficiently, libraries can remain vital resources for information, education, and community engagement in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
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