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In the knowledge economy era, the library will play a very crucial role in the further extension and modification of knowledge. The growing need for knowledge management has influenced every component and operation of a library. Knowledge management requires more effective methods of information handling, speedy transfer of information and linking of information with individuals and their activities. It demands library patron centred development of information systems and services and customisation of information at the individual level. This opinion paper briefly outlines the nature and significance of conceptual changes involved in the practices of library management to their transition of knowledge management and discusses the competencies required for managing knowledge resources.

In today's knowledge-based economies, appropriate Knowledge Management (KM) has proved a strategic management tool to survive and thrive in the ever-changing global market. Therefore, increasingly, all types of organisations including tertiary institutions are adopting KM. This paper focuses on university libraries and presents the partial findings of a study carried out to investigate and explore KM practices in Southern African Development Community (SADC) university libraries. A structured questionnaire was used to carry out the study. The study revealed the main reasons for practicing KM to improve library services: to improve library services and productivity, produce more with less, avoid duplication of efforts and leverage existing knowledge. The major challenges were identified as constant budget decline, lack of incentives, inadequate staff training and expertise, a lack KM strategy, insufficient information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and a lack of knowledge sharing culture. Finally, the paper puts forward some recommendations and a framework for KM implementation in university/academic libraries.

The paper examines the organizational structure of Greek libraries, in the context of continuing change. It seeks the influence of the information technology and the new complex procedures that are necessary.

Management turns to a more vertical hierarchy transferring decision-making and responsibilities to the lower levels.

What that means is that library staff has to participate to decision making, problem solving, risk undertaking, innovation transferring. The most active role of human resources of the libraries ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of the management of library change. Consequently, the team working has characterized as the most effective working model.

This study examines the motivators of academic librarians that helped them achieve their tasks efficiently. It also investigates the implications of Maslow’s theory of needs in managing an academic environment. The study followed a qualitative method using a survey. Therefore, the population of this research consisted of the academic librarians in 9 college libraries at Kuwait University. The data was collected and analyzed. Findings showed noticeably that employees in Kuwait University libraries perceived a fair level of satisfaction and motivation within their libraries in all the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Results of the study might be useful to those in the library field interested in motivation, academic librarians, and managers in the academic environment. Besides, the study adds to the literature in the management of information organization field, as no previous studies on this topic were located.

In the article the role of document information in the process of library management is indicated. The organization of work with documents is a very important part of the management processes and taking managerial decisions, it influences the efficiency and the quality of management. The development of new technologies implies the system approach to the process of taking decisions on the basis of flexible informational analytical integrated system of management.

The processing project of the service database of regulating information in the scientific medical library of Siberian State Medical University (Tomsk, Russia) is presented.

The paper presents a methodology of achieving change management in the university libraries and its application to a case study on Transilvania University Library of Brasov. The model discussed in the paper, original in many aspects, outlines two major stages determining the results of the changes upon the organization's overall performance: implementing changes from a strategic point of view and approaching change as a project. The case study includes a synthetic presentation of the library revealing changes done in the last decade and the major deficiencies associated to the changes management approach. The authors present the central priorities of the strategy elaborated by the library management for the coming years and underline the expectation of their achievement with good results, through the professional approach of the change, based on modern management methods and principles, such as team work, staff involving and leadership.

Quality of library services is in fact the goal of a good library management. We present the method of teaching and how to do library management and practical approach using some strategical models for Information Science students in Library management course at Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. In this paper we try to present Deming Weel scheme in libraries - PDCA (plan- do-check-act) like methods to approach strategic plans to improve different services in the library. After theoretical presentation the students do strategic plans working in teams. They are in double perspective: as users and as managers wanted to improve library services. The students are taught to use statistical methods to interpretate data. We will present the pedagogical method and the students conclusion, the very inventive strategic plans proposed by Transilvania university of Brasov, Romania students in Information Science field.

The paper reports a project conducted within the framework of the National Library of Sweden's Expert Group on Library Statistics. The project is financed by the National Library of Sweden, and it aims to capture how library managements make use of the current library statistics (based on the ISO-standard) in the decision-making process. Questions are also asked about the quality and usefulness of the existing statistical data, whether data covers all relevant aspects of library activity, and what additional data is required in order to enhance the validity of collected statistics.

The primary method used is semi-structured group interviews (focus groups). Four such interviews were held with the participation of 15 library directors from academic and other research or special libraries from different parts of Sweden. The results show that there is considerable ambivalence among the informants concerning the usefulness of current statistics. On the one hand there is severe criticism of what today is reported on a national level (too much and too little), on the other hand statistical data is used locally to underpin arguments supporting library activities.

Stakeholders representing university or institutional management were not available for group interviews. With the support of the interviewed library directors a group of 12 vice-chancellors or other senior managers were identified and approached with a mail survey. Questions were asked about what kind of documentation of library activities they use or prefer, be they quantitative, qualitative or of other kind.

The paper assesses the performance of a sample of 37 libraries pertaining to a federal university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Referring to the years 2006-2007, the assessment is based upon the estimation of a DEA model that generates both efficiency scores and optimal changes in current allocations for each year. Markovian analysis indicates that the percent of efficient libraries will likely decrease in the long run. One can assert that efficiency analysis enhances the assessment of library performance by providing both relative positions and potential improvements along time. The present case served only as an empirical excuse and no special difficulty is to be expected when trying to replicate it in other library systems.