Download (1157Kb) - E-Ait

figures not necessarily reflect those who graduate rather only those enrolled at different
levels. Recently academic libraries in Tanzania have set up a consortium (Consortium of
Tanzania University Libraries (COTUL)) (Arkorful, 2007). This is a basis for partnerships
and gives them bargaining power when purchasing software, journals and e-resources. They
can build union catalogues to share resources and allow users to have access to larger
collections. Limited information is found about COTUL; mostly it is just listed as existing in
many articles. More information about the current figures relating to the number of
university and enrolment see the ministry of Science, Technology and High Education
website (MSTHE).
1.3. Statement of the problem.
According to Peter Drucker “The most valuable asset of a 20th century company was its
production equipment. The most valuable asset of a 21st century institution will be its
knowledge workers and their productivity” (Drucker, 1999). Libraries have been reluctant to
create new measures in replacement for old measures such as number of books on the
shelves, the number of loans and so on. Still there is a dilemma as to what will the future
holds for libraries especially when most things are available online. There is a need for
libraries to create and demonstrate more value to appeal to the stakeholders given the fact that
more and more information providers exists. One way to achieve this is through promoting a
well prepared and motivated task force through adequate training and development
opportunities. Even with this era of very sophisticated technology the discoveries of
machines which can think much the same way as a human being is still a dream. The human
mind is the principal contraption that organizations need to generate new knowledge and
innovation.
1.4. The aim of the study.
As stated above, this research focuses on intellectual capital. The aim of this research is to
study how intellectual capital affects knowledge sharing, see 3.0 for the relationship between
the two. Attention will be given to human capital and structural capital. It is the aim of this
research to find out the state of intellectual capital in Tanzania public university libraries so
as to propose ways forward through which libraries can use intellectual capital to promote
knowledge sharing as a way to gain competitive advantage.
4