This book deals with an exciting often overlooked area; the need to
locate, maintain, manage, and share the knowledge of rural, Indigenous, and
marginalized (RIM) communities globally. This knowledge globally is a valuable
source for human prosperity and survival. Implicit within this is the need for
respect and fair compensation to the communities that are the sources of this
knowledge. Knowledge sharing is a two way street.
Community Knowledge Management highlights an often-overlooked area:
locating, maintaining, compensating for, and sharing the knowledge of rural,
Indigenous, and marginalized (RIM) communities globally. This knowledge is
valuable for all humans’ prosperity, health, and survival and the planet’s
health. Respect for and fair compensation to the source communities is
essential. Knowledge sharing includes the need for reciprocity for the process
must be a two way street.
A. Neelameghan is a former Professor
and Head of the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Indian
Statistical Institute, Bangalore. The DRTC was founded by the renowned library
scientist late Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, with whom Neelameghan worked for a decade.
He has worked in specialized information centres for several years and taught
documentation and information studies in institutions in India and abroad. In
his international professional work of some fifteen years, Neelameghan has been
consultant to and been associated with information projects of UNESCO, UNDP,
IDRC and other international organizations. Neelameghan retired as Regional
Adviser for Asia-Pacific, UNESCO/PGI, Paris. A founder member of Sarada
Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS), Bangalore and the
Ranganathan Centre for Information Studies (RCIS). His special interests
include knowledge organization and knowledge organization tools, community
information management and history of medical information resources. He has
published several books and papers in these subjects.
Greg Chester has taught in public
schools and Indigenous American schools and colleges including the Leech Lake
Tribal College. In the process he has gained insights into ways that lead to
cooperation and sharing among diverse peoples, which can benefit all peoples
and future generations.
Dr. Chester has travelled to, as well as lived and worked in many
parts of the United States, and travelled throughout Canada, Mexico, and Central
America, Western Europe, South Korea, and Sri Lanka and interviewed numerous
knowledgeable people, which has given him substantial insights into the lives
and aspirations of the peoples of these areas.
As the founder and director of the
Leech Lake Tribal College Library Dr. Chester organized the materials in accord
with the culture, history, geography, and interests of the Ojibwe students and
community. He then developed a unique cataloging system based on the Library of
Congress System, to manage the books and materials. If widely used/implemented,
and adapted to local needs it could lead to systems that are more culturally
appropriate, useful, and meaningful for Indigenous people plus being respectful
of their materials, knowledge, wellness strategies, and environments.
Dr. Chester has also co-authored
peer-reviewed articles on issues pertaining to rural, Indigenous and
marginalized communities. He has also authored three historical works on
Indigenous-early American alliances. As a former president of Rights For
American Indians Now (R.A.I.N.) he has worked to improve relations between
Indigenous nations and the United States and Canada as well as working to
protect Indigenous nations’ sovereignty.
