Relationship Between Knowledge Management Practices And Library Users’ Satisfaction: A Preliminary Result of Malaysian University Libraries
It is known that “Knowledge Management” is associated with significant benefits which can empower organizations in the whole world especially University libraries to get more competitive in their environment. Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) and Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS) are two vital aspects of Knowledge Management (KM) which play an important role in creating organizational value. Most organizations, such as University Libraries focus on enhancing their capability of knowledge processes to create new knowledge. The aim of this paper is to test empirically levels and types of KM practice applied at Malaysian university libraries. Based on 35 questionnaires through online, a survey was administered to a Lead User group in libraries (PhD candidates) in Malaysia. This is to elicit opinion of the prime users on the linkage between Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) and Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS). SPSS software were utilized to analyze research data using reliability analysis and Pearson correlation. Results obtained show that Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) has positive influence on the Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS). However, a meaningful linkage was observed between Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS) with two vital constructs of Knowledge Record (KRe) and Knowledge Preserving (KPr). The main contribution of the paper is to provide groundwork empirical evidence about the linkage between Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) and Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS) at Malaysian university libraries. Moreover, it reveals what is the most effective KM Practice, specifically knowledge process. For this relationship purpose, it provides organizations with some preliminary implications in order to shape their knowledge management practices. It is evinced that there is a positive and strong relationship between Knowledge Management Practice (KMP) and Library Users’ Satisfaction (LUS).
