When Sharing Knowledge is Power: Differentiating Knowledge Management and Information Science By Earvin Charles B.

Cabalquinto Library Science and Knowledge Management are two distinct and different interdisciplinary fields. While both employ tools of management and information technology, we must also look at its process, characteristics, domains, structure usage, and objectives to better understand and differentiate the two. Before we proceed with the differentiation of both schemes, it is best to determine the elements that Library Science and Knowledge Management address. As a jumpstart, let us look at the base elements in Library Science and Knowledge Management: that is Information and Knowledge.

Information Vs. Knowledge

As defined by Wiig (1999), information are facts and data organized to characterize a particular situation. Differently, any scattered, unrelated facts, numbers or symbols without context may simply remain as data. Having said this, context binds and gives meaning to information. On one hand, Knowledge is information combined with user!s ability and experience that is used to solve a problem or to create new knowledge. Relatively, according to Davenport & Prusak (1998), Knowledge is a mix of fluid experiences, values, contextual information and intuition that provides a structure to evaluate and incorporate new experiences and information. Moreover, in the context of justified belief, Nonaka & Takeuchi defines Knowledge as a validated truth through consensus. The distinction of information and knowledge may be seen in our daily encounter with facts and processed knowledge. For example, the percentage content that can be found at the back of a food label can be considered as plain information. But, the effect of the intake of these content by the consumer in the body may be considered the knowledge that can be gained by the consumer. Moreover, an explanation of the nutritionist on the content percentage may add new knowledge for the consumer. In summary, information are more on descriptions or facts that answer the general questions like who, what, where and when questions, while knowledge works on how, strategy, practice, method or approach.

Library Science Vs. Knowledge Management

With a clear differentiation between information and knowledge, we may now distinguish the difference between Library Science and Knowledge Management. Library Science and Knowledge Management utilize information and knowledge in different approaches. In Library Science, information as reflected in database or documents are catalogued or even digitized. Knowledge in Library Science can be processed once the user starts to access the artifacts or information and share it to others. In the aspect of Knowledge Management, information serves as the base for further studies. While information may serve as a springboard for knowledge, it is only through interactivity and strategies of communicating information that knowledge

sharing occurs that may lead to innovative or new knowledge. Apparently, this may be a simplification. To fully understand this, we must also look at the relation of information and knowledge to tacit and explicit knowledge and the management of such concepts. Information that are packaged or preserved in physical form is explicit knowledge. Explicit knowledge is easily transferred because it!s documented such as manuscripts, procedures, journals, manuals, or any artifacts. Essentially, Library Science, as an interdisciplinary science, deals with analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information. Knowing this, Library Science employs practices in the management of information. Having said Information as explicit knowledge and a better definition that knowledge resides in the mind or spiritual level, we may argue that knowledge is a tacit knowledge. In reference, tacit knowledge is what people carry in their minds. Interestingly, it may be transferred through interaction and communication. And in relation to Knowledge Management, knowledge is transferred and enriched through organizational framework, strategies of interactivity or utilization of infrastructure or technologies. Given the connection of information on Library Science and knowledge on knowledge management, it may be argued that Library Science and Knowledge Management may differ in its process. While humans play a critical role in the processing of both disciplines, Library Science is about organizing information through databases or documents while Knowledge Management is particular utilizing of systems of work flow in disseminating various knowledge from internal and external influences.

Library Science and Knowledge Management do not only vary in management process, but it also differs in domain. As what the word suggests, Library Science uses the structure and nature of Librarianship. Library science typically refers to a specific community engaged in managing holdings as they are found in university/academic and government libraries.
Differently, Knowledge Management is employed not only in Libraries. While Knowledge Management uses the management system of libraries such as filling or digitizing information, Knowledge Management may be adapted in institutions, corporations, business, and in big or small communities. Relatively, knowledge management shows how knowledge is represented and stored (computer science/linguistics), how it might be automatically processed (artificial intelligence), and how it is organized outside the library in global systems such as the Internet.

Knowledge Management and Library Science differ in its people management. In Library Science, there is the Librarian who manages the database through manual or digital filling. In Knowledge Management, there is the emergence of Communication Officers or Knowledge Managers who ensure that strategies and methods are effective in making knowledge circulate and transform into information or new knowledge. These Knowledge Managers ensure that insights on existing or new knowledge are well shared among staffs or members of an organization or unit. Library Science and Knowledge Management are different in focus. Library Science is more focused on information storage and retrieval that is accessible. In a

Library, the librarian ensures that all possible documents and database are accessible among users. Knowledge Management is human-centric. Knowing humans as the roots or base of knowledge, strategies and programs are made to extract and share knowledge. Take for example in an office or organizations, knowledge processing is made through continuous collaborations as situated in an organization flow that is composed of participating staff or other units. In Knowledge management, the idea is to create a knowledge-sharing environment whereby sharing knowledge is power as opposed to the old adage that, simply, knowledge is power. In some companies, the buzzword of competitive intelligence or collective knowledge has been concocted over the years. Using knowledge management schemes, both internal and external knowledge are documented and shared ranging from reports, research methods, and a wide-array of information rich materials. Plus, discussion databases are consulted for competitive intelligence; the rules and operation (formal and informal) procedures of sharing information makes up knowledge management. All of these are process through accessibility as provided by various technologies such as video conferencing system, document scanning and telecommunication tools. Should we refer to Keystone Principle, the creation of new knowledge and expansion of learning among people happen through interaction in both the real and virtual environments. On a different note, Library Science may also further its schemes on being a usercentric through knowledge management. This is possible through expanding the access of knowledge among users. Apart from building electronic or digital resources such as portals, a monitoring or quality services among users may contribute in creating a strong knowledge management base by obtaining or analyzing the records of user registration, surveys, circulation and interlibrary loans, frequently asked reference questions, and the use of e-journal and digital resources, etc. to tailor services to the needs of the user (Tang).

Library Science and Knowledge Management varies in its objectives. The goal of Library Science is to ensure that information is stored and retrievable and the users get the necessary information needed, while the ultimate purpose of Knowledge Management is tied more closely to organization outcomes as prescribed by the process, rules and operation procedures of sharing information and creation of new knowledge. The process and rules refer to creating, securing, capturing, coordinating, combining, retrieving, and distributing knowledge.
Take for example in a community of learners. While books provide the necessary information, the interactivity among learners generate the sharing of information that leads to the crafting of new knowledge that is set in context, mixed with beliefs and molded by practices. Bottom line, Knowledge management puts the process more in dynamic context as relative to the validation of available information by increasing the connection among knowledgeable people.

While both Library Science and Knowledge Management utilize channels, their strategies are clearly noticeable. In Library science, much of its strategies are tied with database and resource mapping. In Knowledge Management, a wide array of

alternatives are explored especially in organizational interaction and knowledge sharing such as through rewards, storytelling to extract tacit knowledge, cross-project learning, after action reviews, knowledge mapping, communities of practice, social software, knowledge fairs, and a lot more. Given this, Knowledge Management is used from various fields such as education, public health policies and even in government offices. Moreover, human resources and technology management also adapts the system of Knowledge Management. Interestingly, despite the differences, the process of information management as employed in Library Science and the strategies in Knowledge Management play a significant role among individuals, organizations and communities. As our current era moves from goods to an knowledge-based society, plus the influx of information as revolutionized by the Web 2.0, it is important to carry out information and knowledge in an effective form of management. Libraries as a source of vast information, online or traditional, should be carried out to be a foundation in knowledge innovation. Moreover, private or public organizations or companies may explore the sharing of knowledge through a transparent, interactive and enriching system of knowledge management.

Fluidity through Interactivity

What connects communication, Library Science and Knowledge Management is the significant role of process and procedures on the flow of communication, utilization of interactivity (feedback) and the subscription to various traditional or online channels to deliver information or share knowledge among users. Should we look further, the three concepts use a process or flow which delves on the impacts of sharing or interactivity in either conveying a message, managing information or creating new knowledge. Hence, the line of communication should be set to give or share information and generate new and innovative knowledge. In communication, sharing through the concept of feedback has become a foundation in concocting new knowledge. In Library Science, the process of codification through databases is the core process that institutionalizes storage and retrieval of information that defines accessibility as the key toward literacy and action. And in Knowledge management, various strategies on sharing knowledge are utilized to attain objectives or develop new knowledge in accordance with real or virtual environments. Interestingly, such concepts are reflected in business strategies, information technology utilization or even in human resource management. Bottom line, with an understanding how accessibility to information and sharing of knowledge play an essential role in empowering minds, it is important to develop a strong and interactive communication line among users or participants in either small or big organizations or communities. Through sharing, there is a development of organizational insights, a reduction of work duplication, a growth of collective experience and mindset, and an institutionalization of a participatory system. SOURCES: Terra, Jose Claudio & Angeloni, Terezinha. Understanding the difference between Information Management and Knowledge Management. Retrieved from www.providersedge.com/.../Understanding_the_Difference_Between_IM_and_KM.pd f

Bouthillier, France & Shearer, Kathleen (2002). Understanding knowledge management and information management: the need for an empirical perspective, Information Research, Vol. 8 No. 1, retrieved from http://informationr.net/ir/81/paper141.html Lee, Hwa-Wei (2005), Knowledge Management and the Role of Libraries. Retrieved from http://www.white-clouds.com/iclc/cliej/cl19lee.htm You may also want to read the following references: Shanhong, Tang. Knowledge Management in Libraries. Retrieved from http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla66/papers/057-110e.htm Sanchez, Ron (2000), Tacit Knowledge versus Explicit Knowledge: Approaches to Knowledge Management Practice. Retrieved from www.synaxx.com/.../Sanchez%20Tacit%20vs%20Explicit%20Knowledge%202005.p df