Leveraging levels of information services and developing knowledge services. The trend of information services in libraries
| Date | 01 July 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120610702341 |
| Published date | 01 July 2006 |
| Pages | 354-361 |
| Author | Yingjie Ju |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Leveraging levels of information
services and developing
knowledge services
The trend of information services in libraries
Yingjie Ju
Society College of Soochow University, Jangsu, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Purpose – The paper seeks to explore the essential nature of knowledge services, and to identify key
issues that impact on the successful implementation of knowledge services in libraries.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper focuses on and discusses the heightened information
service levels required in order to aspire to knowledge services. It answers the questions: What is the
difference between information services and knowledge services? How do we realize knowledge
services? What is knowledge services’ blue print?
Findings – Information profession services are required to identify, analyze and coordinate the
various needs of their potential user groups. Part of this process determines the levels of service. The
requirements are changing from data, information to knowledge. The main reasons are library
customers’ growing and changing needs: from information access, storage, and retrieval to knowledge
access, storage and retrieval. The aim of knowledge services is to provide a high level service through
the effective use of knowledge. So special repositories must be accessed and used, and then analysis
tools can be applied to achieve the user’s objectives.
Originality/value – The paper posits how knowledge is pivotal in today’s environment and
illustrates how it is important to set up new knowledge services modes that make use of knowledge
service platforms and knowledge warehouses.
Keywords Knowledge management, Libraries, Information services
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
The benefits of information services lie in that they can help users to get the right
information and thereby enhance their academic understanding and user efficiency. As
a matter of fact, there exists a virtually unlimited potential market to explore for
information services. This market involves availability, reliability, serviceability,
response and users’ satisfaction of information services. However, the current situation
in information services is unsatisfactory: it does not fully fit the requirements of
society. Therefore, we deem that the future development strategy of information
services in libraries is to leverage levels of information services. In other words, we are
going to transform information services into knowledge services in order to provide
better support for society. Specifically, knowledge repository will be built based on
existing information sources. Knowledge workers now are working on creating
knowledge rather than the traditional task, organizing information. Consequently, a
new information service model will be built using existing knowledge technologies. In
other words, the levels of information service will be enhanced. This is the
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
LM
27,6/7
354
Received 19 April 2006
Revised 25 May 2006
Accepted 8 June 2006
Library Management
Vol. 27 No. 6/7, 2006
pp. 354-361
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120610702341
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