THE CULTURE OF LEARNING OF DIGITAL LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS IN EUROPE:A STUDY OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES’ COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICEMarcial R. Batiancila

San Sebastian College-recoletos de Cavite, Cavite City, Philippines
mbatiancila@gmail.com

5TH RIZAL LIBRARY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS:COMMON CHALLENGES, UNIQUE APPROACHES | 25 -26 OCTOBER 2012Outline
Background & Context• Communities of Practice (CoPs) in Retrospect• Studies on DL CoPs
• Learning Culture

Research Aim & Objectives
 Methodology
 Results
 Conclusions
M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

CoPs in Retrospect

The concept has been prevalent in medicine, law, psychology,education, and theology for quite some time as early as 1864
(Wallace, 2007, p. 38).
Was coined by Lave and Wenger in 1991 and developed
extensively by Wenger in 1998 (Fuller, Hodkinson, &Hodkinson, 2005).
Was popularized by Brown and Duguid since 1996, following
their analysis of Orr’s ethnographic study of Xerox
technicians (Hara, Shachaf, & Stoerger, 2009).

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

CoPs in Retrospect…2
Since the beginning of history, human beings have formed
communities that share cultural practices reflecting theircollective learning… Participating in these ‘communities ofpractice’ is essential to our learning. It is at the very core ofwhat makes us human beings capable of meaningful
knowing (Wenger, 2000, p. 229).

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Studies on DL CoPsThese studies have been focus on:• Social aspects of DL (Bishop et al., 2000; 2003),• Decision-making process (Oguz, 2007),• Collaboration (Oguz, Marsh & Landis, 2010), and• Community building (Worrall, 2010).

The role of CoPs has not been a focus of DL research eventhough some influential researchers in the field haveaddressed this concept directly or indirectly in discussions ofDLs (Borgman & Marchioni cited in Oguz , 2007).

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Studies on DL CoPs…2Organizations operating in DL which can be characterized asCoPs (Oguz, 2007):• some of them refer to themselves as CoPs (i.e. Semantic

Interoperability (XML Web Services) Community of Practice);• others prefer to call themselves communities with an interest tospecific aspect of the field though their goal and activities fit thedescription of a CoP (i.e. Z39.50 International Next Generation(ZING) Forum and Digital Library Federation (DLF))

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Studies on DL CoPs…3
Organizations operating in DL…

• some have well-defined domain but itself is a network that aims

to integrate and coordinate the DL research efforts carried out
by the major digital library research teams (i.e. The Network ofExcellence on Digital Libraries (DELOS); and• others play an important roles both in building and cultivating
the CoPs in the DL field, and such meetings serve as a breeding
ground for future collaboration in DL development efforts (i.e.
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). (Oguz, 2007, p. 51)

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Studies on DL CoPs…4
DL CoPs may represent a variety of backgrounds andorganizations in which it will be comprised of experts in theinterdisciplinary fields of information and computer science.

M.
M.R.
R.BBATIANCILAATIANCILA||TTHEHEDLDLPPROFESSIONALSROFESSIONALS’’LLEARNINGEARNINGCCULTUREULTURE ||53TH
RDRLICQQML| 25-26| 25 M
OCTAY. 20112012

Learning Culture

The community creates the social fabric of learning (Wenger,McDermott & Snyder, 2002, p. 28).
Learning occurs not inside the mind of the individuals, butrather in the fields of social interaction between people(Hanks, 1991 cited in (Coburn & Stein, 2006).
This study is anchored on Lave and Wenger (1991) situatedlearning theory.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Learning Culture…2


Learning culture can be defined as an embodiment of or a setof beliefs, norms, and behaviors of individuals and groups in acommunity of practitioners which nurtures learning throughcollective discovery, sharing, and application of knowledge(Batiancila, 2011).

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Research Aim & Objectives
This investigation sought to find out the role of CoPs in thedevelopment of a learning culture among DL professionals.
Furthermore, it sought to determine the success and hinderingfactors in the development of learning culture in DL CoPs.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Methods
Philosophical view : Interpretivist
Methodological approach: Qualitative research
Data gathering strategy: Semi-structured interview
Sampling strategy: Non-probability sampling (Snowballsampling)
The data were analyzed based on five steps thematicanalysis of Peterson et al. (1994)

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012Results…5
Modes of Learning in CoPs and its Learning Climate• The study revealed that formal learning also takes place in CoPs

through joint summer schools, workshops, mentorships, conferences
and formal meetings.
• However, most of the time learning in CoPs usually occurs informallyand primarily through information sharing, e-mail discussion lists,
exchanging best practices, study tours, online discussions as well as
face-to-face discussions.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012Results
Learning Climate in DL CoPs
The interviewees indicated that there is a positive, friendly,
collaborative, very accessible or open, relaxed and notcompetitive environment.
Thus, this learning climate help flourish the development ofboth formal and informal learning environment of which every
members are accumulating knowledge through their interaction
and become informally bound by the value that they found inlearning together.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012Results
Practices that Fosters a Culture of Learning in DL CoPs The study revealed that this formal and informal learning arecharacterized by four distinct cultures that foster a culture oflearning:• knowledge sharing culture;• culture of collaboration;• knowledge transfer culture; and• culture of innovation.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012ResultsPractices that Fosters a Culture of Learning in DL CoPs

• That knowledge sharing culture creates a practice of open sharing

where there is the presence of high level professionals that arewilling to share their experiences.
• That what brought CoPs’ members together is their interest oncommon activities and on gaining new learning experience throughmutual engagement and collaborative learning.
• That through this interaction, knowledge is communicated,acquired, and use in generating new ideas, creation, invention ordeveloping new product.
• That DL CoPs have facilitated the development of new DL services
and in developing new applications and software prototypes. Thus,CoPs have brought the culture of innovation and creativity.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012Results…7
Success or hindering factors in developing a culture of learningin DL CoPs
• That there are three critical success factors in creating a learning
culture in CoPs such as:• Human behavior-related factor include: attitude towards knowledge
sharing such as motivation, open-mindedness and willingness toshare, trust and professionalism• Organizational factor include: shared vision or values, sense ofbelongingness and leadership• Technological factor – having efficient technology

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012Results…8Success or hindering factors in developing a culture of learningin DL CoPs
• That there are four hindering factors or barriers in creating alearning culture in CoPs such as:• Attitude towards knowledge sharing such as monopoly in

information or knowledge sharing by few individuals and passivism
among members• Culture-related challenges include: not open or not culturally
closed to colleagues, having different understanding on doing
business (cultural biased or cultural inferiority) and having culturaldifferences• Language limitation• TimeM. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Conclusions


Through the literature review, it emerged that there have notbeen studies that specifically discuss the development oflearning culture in DL CoPs.
The findings of the study indicated that there is a strong
culture of learning among DL professionals which ischaracterized by the four distinct cultures of practices –knowledge sharing culture, culture of collaboration,knowledge transfer culture and the culture of innovation.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Conclusions
Furthermore, this culture of learning once cultivated will bring
forth remarkable results to both personal/professional and atorganizational level. It will also lead to increase in productivity
and on developing innovative products and services in the DLfield.
The current research has shed light on the emergence of CoPs
in the field of DL and may pave the way to a newunderstanding on how learning culture is created. Hence,CoPs are becoming a new means of strengthening theorganizations’ strategic relevance and in enhancing
individuals’ professional and working life

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Works CitedFuller, A., Hodkinson, H., & Hodkinson, P. (2005). Learning as
peripheral participation in communities of practice: a Reassessment ofkey concepts in workplace learning. British Educational Research
Journal , 31 (1).
Hanks, W. F. (1991). Foreword. In J. Lave, & E. Wenger, Situatedlearning: legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge, NY:
Cambridge University Press.
Hara, N. (2007). Information technology support for communities ofpractice: How public defenders learn about winning and losing incourt. Journal of the American Society for Information Science andTechnology , 58 (1), 76–87.
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning : Legitimate peripheral
participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Works Cited…2

Oguz, F. (2007). An exploration of the diffusion of a newtechnology from communities of practice perspective: Web
services technologies in digital libraries (Unpublished dissertation).
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
Oguz, F., Marsh, C., & Landis, C. (2010). Collaboration throughcommunities of practice in the digital age. TechnologicalConvergence and Social Networks in Information ManagementCommunications in Computer and Information Science , 96 (1).
Wallace, D. P. (2007). Knowledge management: historical andcross-disciplinary themes. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Wenger, E. (2000). Communities of practice and social learningsystems. Organization , 7 (2).
Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating
communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Boston,
Mass.: Harvard Business School Press.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Works Cited…3Worrall, A. (2010). Supporting community-building in digital
libraries: A pilot study of LibraryThing. Proceedings of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology, 47, 1-3.
Oguz, F. (2007). An exploration of the diffusion of a newtechnology from communities of practice perspective: Web
services technologies in digital libraries (Unpublished dissertation).
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
Oguz, F., Marsh, C., & Landis, C. (2010). Collaboration throughcommunities of practice in the digital age. Technological
Convergence and Social Networks in Information Management
Communications in Computer and Information Science , 96 (1).
Wallace, D. P. (2007). Knowledge management: historical andcross-disciplinary themes. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Wenger, E. (2000). Communities of practice and social learningsystems. Organization , 7 (2).

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012

Works Cited…4


Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating
communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Boston,
Mass.: Harvard Business School Press.
Worrall, A. (2010). Supporting community-building in digital
libraries: A pilot study of LibraryThing. Proceedings of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology, 47, 1-3.

M. R. BATIANCILA| THE DL PROFESSIONALS’ LEARNING CULTURE | 5TH RLIC | 25-26 OCT. 2012