KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE FIFTH INDUSTRAL REVOLUTION: THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES

Abstract

The study focused on the role of libraries in knowledge management in the fifth industrial revolution (5IR); particularly, it investigated the knowledge management (KM) practices in the 5IR, the role of KM in driving innovation and competitiveness in the 5IR, and identified the challenges to KM practices in the 5IR. The research population comprised of all 106 librarians in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Oyo State. The study adopted the total enumeration technique, and had a total of 87 respondents, which made a return rate of 82%. The descriptive survey research was adopted for the study, and the research instrument was questionnaire, and the data analyses uses tables, frequency, and Mean values. Findings from the study showed that IoT-enabled devices and AI-powered tools are used for knowledge creation and capture, social networks, and collaborative platforms are used for knowledge sharing and collaboration, AI-powered search engines are used for knowledge sharing and retrieval, and they moderately use AI-powered decision support systems for knowledge application and utilisation. Further findings revealed that KM ensures the security of intellectual property, KM promotes innovation, aids informed decision-making, and effective problem-solving. Findings showed that the major challenges to KM practices are technical challenges, and information and data challenges. The research recommended that information managers should take advantage of KM techniques for promoting innovation; and librarians should be trained on how to protect knowledge from Cybersecurity challenges.