The Effect of Knowledge Management Systems and Knowledge Sharing on the Performance and Loyalty of Librarians

Purpose: Loyalty and satisfaction of employees are key factors for the success and survival of any organization, especially service-oriented organizations like public libraries. On one hand, maintaining the position and dignity of the public library requires consideration of the performance and loyalty of its librarians. On the other hand, it is essential to focus on implementing a knowledge management system and promoting knowledge sharing in service-oriented organizations to enhance loyalty and organizational performance. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the impact of knowledge management and knowledge sharing systems on the performance and loyalty of librarians in public libraries in Fars province.
Method: The present study was conducted as applied research. Data collection involved a descriptive survey and correlation analysis. The statistical population comprised 331 librarians from public libraries in Fars province, with a sample size of 175 selected using the stratified random method based on the Krejci & Morgan table. The study utilized four questionnaires on knowledge management (Newman and Konrad, 2000), knowledge sharing (Panahi, Watson, and Partridge, 2012), librarian performance (Zarei and Same Siahkolroudi, 2017), and librarian loyalty (Yeh, Yeong, and Cheng, 2010; June, Cai, and Shin, 2006). The questionnaires demonstrated Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.7. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25 for descriptive statistics and Smart PLS software for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to determine the relationships between variables. The measurement model section utilized Cronbach's alpha, Construct Reliability (CR), and Convergent Validity (CV) indexes. Additionally, the model fit was assessed using Normed Fit Index (NFI), Standardized Root Mean Square Residuals (SRMR), d-G, d-ULS, and Chi-Square.
Findings: The findings showed that the status of variables related to knowledge management, knowledge sharing, performance of librarians, and loyalty of librarians in the public libraries of Fars province is in good condition and above average. Among the research variables, the performance of librarians, with an average of 4.04, was higher than other variables. The results of the correlation test indicated a significant and positive relationship between knowledge management and knowledge sharing (p<0.01, r = 0.373) with librarians' performance (p<0.01, r = 0.342) and loyalty (p<0.01,
r = 0.484). Additionally, there was a significant and positive relationship between knowledge sharing and the performance of librarians (p<0.01, r = 0.513) and loyalty of librarians (p<0.01, r = 0.596). The indicators of the measurement model for the construct reliability index and Cronbach's alpha were above 0.7, indicating the reliability of the construct. The average variance extracted index for the convergent validity of the model was also higher than 0.5 for all variables, indicating appropriate convergent validity. The results of the SEM fit showed that the coefficient of determination for librarians' performance and loyalty were calculated as 0.327 and 0.561, respectively, indicating the prediction of 32% and 56% of the variance in performance and loyalty of librarians. Furthermore, the Goodness of Fit (GOF) index was calculated as 0.56, indicating a relatively strong fit of the proposed model.
Conclusion: One of the crucial factors influencing the professional conduct of librarians is their performance level and loyalty to libraries and information centers. Understanding the loyalty status of librarians can assist managers in planning to achieve desired objectives. By elucidating the correlation between knowledge management, knowledge sharing, organizational loyalty, and librarian performance, the research findings can capture the attention of library managers and officials to bolster the knowledge management and sharing systems in libraries. This will create conducive conditions for enhancing the performance and loyalty of librarians. By improving access to knowledge, honing expertise, and promoting continuous learning, librarians can deliver optimal service to users and establish a more efficient relationship with the organization.