Strengthening the roles of librarians as stewards of indigenous knowledge

One of the primary aspects of knowledge management (KM)¹ is KM for sustainable development (KM4SD). The sixth generation of KM4SD² is characterized by the “decolonization of knowledge,” and one of its six features is indigenous and local knowledge (ILK).

Recognising the vital role of ILK in sustainability transformations, the RealKM-KM4Dev-K4DP KM & SDGs campaign has successfully contributed to “Action 32. We will protect, build on and complement Indigenous, traditional and local knowledge” in the United Nations (UN) Pact for the Future³, as discussed on page xiii of the Agenda Knowledge for Development⁴.

Libraries and librarians have been identified as having key roles⁵ in preserving indigenous knowledge. A newly published paper⁶ in the International Journal of Information Science and Management looks at how these roles can be strengthened. For their research, authors Leili Seifi, Maryam Ghasemipoor, and C. Syamili carried out a Delphi panel review of 30 articles that had been identified through a database search.

Key roles of librarians

Seifi, Ghasemipoor, and Syamili’s study has identified 21 distinct roles that librarians play in managing indigenous knowledge, as shown in Figure 1.

Some of these roles have greater foundational, ethical, and transformative value than others:

• Collection development and cultural documentation. These roles are essential as they directly support the preservation, representation, and accessibility of Indigenous knowledge, often transmitted through oral traditions, storytelling, artefacts, and lived experiences.  Integrating indigenous voices into library collections challenges historically exclusionary practices and allows marginalized ways of knowing to be institutionalized, reinforcing community empowerment and cultural continuity.
• Community engagement. This closely connects with collection development, bridging institutional services and indigenous knowledge systems. Engagement with communities is more than a procedural necessity; it is a commitment to co-creating knowledge in participatory and culturally grounded ways. Librarians who carry out community profiling, needs assessments, and consultation with elders gather information and affirm the authority and agency of Indigenous knowledge holders.
• Cultural awareness. This is another critical role, and complements the above functions by ensuring that librarians engage ethically and sensitively with indigenous knowledge. Librarians must possess both technical expertise and intercultural awareness to avoid misrepresenting or commodifying indigenous knowledge. This includes understanding historical contexts, power dynamics, and local protocols.
• Documenting indigenous knowledge and protecting related intellectual property. Indigenous knowledge is highly vulnerable to exploitation, misappropriation, and commercialization, especially in the absence of legal protections. Librarians are well-positioned to contribute to the development of intellectual property frameworks that respect communal ownership, cultural protocols, and knowledge sovereignty.
• Institutional collaboration. Librarians engaging with universities, governments, and indigenous organizations can amplify the reach, legitimacy, and impact of their initiatives. Institutional collaborations often provide access to funding, technical expertise, and policy influence resources that are otherwise difficult to obtain in under-resourced library environments.

The prioritization of these roles is not static but shaped by cultural, geographic, and institutional contexts.

Characteristics librarians should develop

Seifi, Ghasemipoor, and Syamili’s study has identified five key characteristics that librarians should develop to manage indigenous knowledge effectively, as shown in Figure 2.

Among these:

• A deep and respectful understanding of the value of indigenous knowledge emerges as the most foundational.  This understanding enables librarians to see indigenous knowledge not as supplementary or informal but as a legitimate and holistic system of knowing.
• The librarian’s ethical commitment is closely linked to this foundational knowledge. Librarians have a professional responsibility to protect the intellectual and cultural rights of indigenous knowledge holders.
• The characteristic of participatory further deepens a librarian’s capacity to engage ethically and effectively. Librarians who actively participate in community events, rituals, and everyday practices gain valuable insights into how knowledge is structured and shared.
• Interest and enthusiasm for indigenous knowledge, while sometimes undervalued, play an important motivational role. Passionate librarians are more likely to initiate innovative programs, such as exhibitions, oral history projects, and educational campaigns, that increase awareness of Indigenous knowledge and its contemporary relevance.
• Appreciation of Indigenous knowledge refers to a librarian’s ability to adapt their actions to the rhythms, needs, and preferences of Indigenous communities. This characteristic is especially relevant in knowledge systems aligned with seasonal cycles, spiritual calendars, and life-stage ceremonies.

While all five characteristics are necessary, they are not of equal weight. The most critical characteristics, including an understanding of the value of indigenous knowledge, an ethical commitment, and participatory approaches, serve as the moral and conceptual foundation for all librarian activities in indigenous knowledge management.

Skills librarians should have

Seifi, Ghasemipoor, and Syamili’s study has identified three skills areas that librarians should have to manage indigenous knowledge effectively, as shown in Figure 3.

Among these:

• Professional competencies. Professional expertise in knowledge management, documentation, indexing, and information and communication technology (ICT) forms the technical foundation of indigenous knowledge services.
• Cultural competence. cultural competence emerges as the most critical and ethically grounded skill in managing indigenous knowledge. Cultural competence encompasses awareness, understanding, and respectful engagement with Indigenous peoples’ values, languages, worldviews, and traditions.
• Skills developments. Strong interpersonal and communication skills complement and reinforce cultural competence by enabling librarians to establish meaningful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities.

While technical, cultural, and interpersonal skills are all necessary for librarians managing Indigenous knowledge, they must be prioritized according to their ethical weight, relational function, and contextual necessity.

Header image: Queensland, Australia’s First Nations library network is celebrated in a State Library of Queensland showcase. Source: State Library of Queensland media centre.

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