Sharing knowledge, filling gaps

As a very new librarian, I often need a little guidance. Ok, actually, I frequently need A LOT of guidance. From routine procedures to ponderings about my destiny as an academic librarian, I benefit from—and indeed, rely upon—others’ knowledge. I am fortunate to work in a large institution with many experienced and generous colleagues. However, I find that information is sometimes difficult to come by. Bits and pieces of procedures were never written down. Gaps exist where a person in a particular position left the institution and no one ever filled his or her role. Sometimes no one seems to know the answer to a question or know who to ask. The size of the organization makes it hard to create direct channels for sharing and collaboration.

Something tells me that this is not an uncommon state of affairs in libraries, large and small alike. In many “conservative” organizations, institutional knowledge is notoriously porous. However, as Chun Wei Choo discusses in The Knowing Organization, knowledge sharing and preservation is really the means by which institutions make decisions, foster growth, and create new knowledge. But in day-to-day practice, any number of reasons—particularly lack of time, lack of guidance by administrators, and simple oversight—can hinder the process of knowledge transfer. And nowhere is this gap more keenly felt than in the daily life of a new librarian.

For the time being, I intend to practice diligence in communication. For others who might be in the same situation, it’s so important to ask questions. Don’t give up. Keep pressing. If someone doesn’t know the answer to a question, find out who to ask. If no one knows, discuss a solution with some colleagues, or ask that the problem be put on a meeting agenda. This is essential to keeping information from slipping through the cracks. New librarians are perfectly positioned to point out knowledge gaps and facilitate the knowledge sharing process.