Leveraging levels of information services and developing knowledge services

Abstract

PurposeThe 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/approachThis 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?FindingsInformation 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/valueThe 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.