Iranian Academic Libraries Research Articles

Social networks in Iranian academic libraries: complementary or antagonistic tools?

PurposeThe present study aimed to investigate the impact of social networks on the use of academic libraries by university students.Design/methodology/approachThe method used in the present study was a survey. The statistical population included 461 university students. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. The result of the Cronbach test was equal to 0.726 indicating the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire. For data analysis, descriptive statistical methods and inferential statistical methods using SPSS 21 software were employed.FindingsThe findings showed that 243 of the participants used social networks for 4–6 h a day, 192 students never used university libraries and 229 used the university library only once in a month. Communication with friends was also reported to be one of the main goals in using social networks. The results of regression analysis also indicated that four predictor variables including information retrieval, social influence, trust and attractiveness of social networking environment were statistically able to explain the variance of reluctance to use university libraries.Originality/valueThe present study is one of the few studies that has examined the negative impact of social networks on visiting university libraries.

Roadmap of Iranian digital academic libraries in the context of cloud infrastructure and becoming cloud library

PurposeThis paper aims to draw a roadmap for the presence of Iranian academic libraries in the cloud infrastructure.Design/methodology/approachThis research attends an applied-development one that is a part of developmental research due to its conceptual expansion, foresight and roadmap for the presence of cloud-based academic libraries and finally, becoming cloud libraries. Because of providing a roadmap template, the presence of academic digital libraries in the cloud and becoming a cloud library is applied research. Because of providing a roadmap template, academic digital libraries’ presence in the cloud and becoming a cloud library is one of the applied research areas. The statistical population of this research includes all Iranian digital academic libraries. There were 64 digital libraries out of which 59 libraries participated in completing the questionnaire.FindingsPreliminary results from used Delphi method’s first round which was considered by 59 experts were identified typically and descriptive after appropriate component classification and editing. After identifying these factors, each of the roadmap levels in the third stage and the degree of relevance approved by the experts were reviewed and the most critical and relevant factors were identified as key components of the roadmap for the presence of cloud-based academic libraries and becoming cloud libraries. At this stage, they were selected as 24 factors, including seven factors for the first layer, eight factors for the second layer and nine factors for the third layer.Originality/valueBy introducing a roadmap for the presence of academic digital libraries in the cloud context, they will promote more and better interaction between academic libraries to offer services to users anytime and anywhere.

Internet of Things Infrastructures in Academic Libraries: A Case Study in Iran

Internet of Things (IoT) is going to create many changes in libraries. However, its application in libraries requires the use of various infrastructures. This paper aims to determine IoT infrastructures in academic libraries and examine them in Iranian academic libraries. This is a descriptive survey with two qualitative and quantitative approaches. The statistical population consists of 15 central libraries of state universities of Tehran in 2018. The infrastructures needed to apply this technology in libraries were extracted through an in-depth study method and based on which a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and its reliability and validity were confirmed. The questions were answered in three parts by managers, library staffs, and IT specialists Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and SPSS software. A total of 4 infrastructures and 42 components were obtained for IoT in libraries. The results showed that the studied libraries, having 60.53% of the required infrastructures are in moderate condition. Technical, financial, legal and human resource infrastructures, respectively, with an average score of 64.85%, 63.7%, 71.23%, and 64.7% are also in moderate condition. The studied libraries are in moderate condition in terms of the required infrastructures for using IoT and are still far from ideal. It is suggested that the identified weaknesses and shortcomings will be addressed by managers and authorities in order to provide the basis for using this technology.

Exploring the common factors affecting the strategic plans in Iranian academic libraries

PurposeOne of the important processes for success or failure of strategic plans in academic libraries is identifying different dimensions and factors affecting library activities and services. However, more previous studies focusing on strategic planning processes and few research have explored perspectives of academic library managers in factors affecting designed strategic plans. This article aims to identify the common factors affecting the strategic plans in Iranian academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachAfter adopting a qualitative survey design, 28 Iranian academic library managers were interviewed. Purposive snowball sampling method was used to select the libraries’ managers, and the data analysis was done using the thematic analysis method by MAXQDA 10.FindingsThe study revealed three main themes including personal, professional and organizational factors that effect on academic libraries’ strategic plans. Users' expectations and librarians' personality characteristics were identified as two sub-themes for personal factors. In term of professional factors, scientific achievement of libraries and communication skills are the most important factors. Academicals factors, managerial factors and budget alignment are most important organizational factors that affect the Iranian academic libraries’ strategic plans.Originality/valueIranian academic libraries use different approaches for developing their strategic plans. However, by revealing the common affecting factors by academic library managers, the study provides an opportunity for better controlling the academic libraries' strategic plans progresses.

Mobile services in the libraries of the world’s top universities

PurposeAs many organizations and institutions in recent years are trying to update their hardware and software platforms toward using mobile technology, libraries and information centers as trustees and leaders of information management and information science need to be futurists in this area. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the status of using mobile-based services in the world’s top university libraries.Design/methodology/approachIn this direct observation and quantitative research survey, the authors reviewed the status of using mobile-based services in the libraries of the world’s top universities.FindingsThe results showed that 84 percent of the libraries of the top 50 universities in the world have made their websites mobile-friendly and provide mobile-based services; however, only 30 percent of them have designed mobile library application. The findings of this study revealed that mobile phone services such as “Search catalog,” “Hour of library,” “Contact,” “Ask the librarian” and “News” in more than 50 percent of the libraries with mobile-based services has been used. While some services like “Services for disabled,” “Library card,” “Library Strategic Plan” and “Financial services” are less important to deliver on the mobile platform.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the current research are only limited to this environment. Furthermore limited access to all features of some mobile library applications is another limitation of this work. Also, failure to download some of the university apps from the usual App store due to the nationality of the researchers is other limitations of the study. The authors try to find more details of these apps with connecting to the librarians of this statistic society.Practical implicationsThe research results indicated that the majority of libraries in the world’s top universities have moved toward designing and using mobile platform in their websites. This survey suggests that the academic libraries of developing countries in order to follow this trend are supposed to plug in most used services based on experience of academic libraries of top universities.Originality/valueThe research results indicated that the majority of libraries in the world’s top universities have moved toward designing and using mobile platform in their websites. This survey suggests that the Iranian academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education are also trying to follow this trend in order to meet the users’ information needs.

E-readiness assessment of academic libraries: a case study in Iran

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the e-readiness status of libraries in the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in terms of four dimensions – human resources, electronical infrastructure, network services and programs and enhancers of the networked world.Design/methodology/approachThe study population consists of 11 libraries of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, including the central library and 10 faculty libraries. The data collection instrument is a questionnaire prepared by the researchers that has been designed on the basis of the “e-readiness assessment of Iranian academic libraries model”. Depending on the respondents there are three parts to the questionnaire: questionnaire for managers, staff and information and communication technology (ICT) officials. Their reliability and validity have been proved.FindingsThe libraries of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences had an average to high status in terms of “human resources” with a score of 2.32, “electronic infrastructure” with a score of 2.48, “network services and programs” with a score of 2.09 and “networked world enhancers” with a score of 2.37 out of 4. In total, these libraries had an average to high status in terms of e-readiness, with a score of 2.29.Originality/valueThe findings of this study can help the library administrators and officials of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences to plan improvements to the situation of ICT.

Structural equation model of organizational climate in Iranian academic libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the status of organizational climate of Iranian academic libraries and map its structural equation model. Organizational climate is one of the main indicators of organizational health and dynamic. Design/methodology/approach – This research was an applied survey. The statistical population of the research included all staff working in 96 central libraries of Iranian governmental universities (N = 520). A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Some descriptive and inferential statistical methods applied for data analysis in SPSS and factor analysis in LISREL software were used for modelling organizational climates in the libraries. Findings – The t values of factor analysis pass showed that the effect of all indicators of ClimateQUAL on organizational climate was significant. The factor loading of the pass model showed that among the nine indicators, climate for psychological safety with 5.24, climate for innovation with 5.06 and climate for leadership with 4.93 had a higher effect on organizational climate of the libraries. Considering the values of goodness-of-fit indicators, the path model has an optimal status in all indicators, but that of RMSEA in which the status is relatively acceptable. The observed data relatively matched the theoretical model. Originality/value – The t values of factor analysis pass showed that the effect of all indicators of ClimateQUAL on organizational climate was significant. The factor loading of the pass model showed that among the nine indicators, climate for psychological security with 5.24, climate for innovation with 5.06 and climate for leadership with 4.93 had a higher effect on organizational climate of the libraries. Considering the values of goodness-of-fit indicators, the path model has an optimal status in all indicators, except the RMSEA in which the status is relatively acceptable. The observed data relatively matched the theoretical model.

Feasibility study of digital document supply services in Iranian research institutes and academic libraries

PurposeThe paper's aim is to study the feasibility of establishing digital document supply services in libraries of research institutes and universities in Isfahan province.Design/methodology/approachThe research is of a descriptive survey type. The population under study included librarians working in academic and research institute libraries in Isfahan province. The data were collected via a researcher‐made questionnaire using a five‐point Likert scale.FindingsThe study indicates that the feasibility of establishing digital document supply services in academic and research institute libraries in Isfahan province is less than average, which is not desirable.Originality/valueThe paper provides information about the state of document supply services in Iranian academic libraries and research institutes.

Selecting an Appropriate Change Management Model for Iranian Academic Libraries Using MADM Methods

Today's life is not insulated from different kinds of “change.” Change is also experienced in organizations as a somehow daily process. Academic libraries are organizations which need to be active in confrontation with “change” because of their essential role in education and research. These libraries could be more successful in meeting users' information needs, if they manage change in a planned manner. In this regard, Iranian academic libraries are not exceptional. They are faced with pressures from their internal and external environments, which make it essential for them to respond and implement necessary changes. In order to assist these libraries in overcoming challenges stemming from change and improving the change management capacity in libraries, this article aims to select an appropriate change management model for Iranian academic libraries. After reviewing the literature, finding and selecting basic change models including Kotter's Change Model, Penfold's Information Services Framework for Managing Change, and Curzon's Cycle of Change, a research questionnaire was designed and answered by a group of experts using the consensus method. The results were analyzed by Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques including Technique for Order- Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Simple Additive Weighting Method (SAWM). Penfold's Information Services Framework for Managing Change received the highest scores from the application of both techniques. It is concluded that Penfold's Information Services Framework for Managing Change could be applied as an appropriate change model in the context of Iranian academic libraries.

Evaluation of the interlibrary loan services in Iran: a case study of the AMIN service

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the use and the costs of AMIN, the interlibrary loan service in Iran.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was used for the data collection. It was completed by those librarians in charge of AMIN in academic libraries.FindingsThe statistics collected from six libraries showed that 514 items were loaned, of which 49 per cent were journal articles and 43 per cent were books. Post was used for the delivery of about 55 per cent of the items, while e‐mail was used for the delivery of only 7 per cent of the items. The average time spent dealing with each request (the time lapse between receipt of the request and dispatching the item) was about 7.1 days. The library of the University of Tehran was the most effective library in this regard as it only took 3.4 days on average for each request. The study revealed that the participating libraries did not have a proper procedure in place for collecting usage statistics and therefore one cannot evaluate the effectiveness of the AMIN service.Originality/valueThe paper reveals the cost of document supply in Iranian academic libraries and illustrates that ILL services in Iran are not efficient and that measures could be taken to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of services.

Investigation of MARC use in Iranian academic libraries

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the usability of machine‐readable cataloging (MARC) in the academic libraries located in Tehran, Iran.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology was adopted. The data are based on a survey conducted with a researcher‐made questionnaire to measure the views of Iranian academic librarians about MARC. In total, 45 librarians who have at least one year experience in cataloging and classification and know MARC were the sample of this study. Statistical analysis (descriptive and inferential) was applied using Excel and SPSS software to analyze the data.FindingsThe results showed over 72 per cent of catalogers in Tehran academic libraries claimed that they know MARC and 50 per cent of them claimed that they used it. Based upon the librarians' views the most important advantages of MARC are: making uniform subject headings, union catalogue and uniform authority names, exchange information with other libraries, exchange bibliographic information with different languages. Also according to the in catalogers the most important problems of MARC in general are: unchangeable format, detailed format, and not paying attention to needs of end‐users, different coding system in the country, problem of library software in using MARC, and using different MARC formats.Originality/valueThe paper's findings may help improve our understanding about MARC. The survey results could be used for enhancing the level of MARC application in academic libraries, not only in Iran but also elsewhere.

A study of success factors of resource sharing in Iranian academic libraries

PurposeThis paper aims to present the results of a study on success factors of resource sharing (RS) and cooperation in Iranian Academic Libraries (IAL), from the point‐of‐view of librarians who have direct experience of such activities. It investigates and compares the librarians' experiences of, and opinions on, the importance of the success factors in the current and desirable situations in the IALs.Design/methodology/approachBased on a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, 58 success factors of RS were identified from the previous studies. Using Likert scale technique, the importance of the factors in the current and desired situations of the RS programs were explored and ranked, based on the experiences and opinions of a sample of “key informants” who had direct experience of RS activities in the context of IALs. Then the consistency and/or inconsistency between the current and desired situations of the success factors were identified, using gap analysis method.FindingsThe findings revealed that almost all of the success factors mentioned in previous studies are considered important by the respondents. However, only eight factors received high rankings in the current and desired situations of the RS programs in the IALs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on factors identified in previous studies. This may ignore certain, especially cultural, factors, which are effective in the context of IALs.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the importance of success factors in development or improvement of any RS activity. The factors would provide both researchers and practitioners with a rich framework to examine the current situation of their RS programs and develop informed strategic plans to improve that. In particular, the findings inform the RS planners and policy makers that particular attention needs to be given to the factors that are identified as very important by the study participants. These factors would alert them to the causes and impacts of such a deficiency in the RS and library cooperation systems.Originality/valueThere is no comprehensive study on the success factors of RS in libraries and, as such, no investigation of the factors in some real‐life contexts of RS activities. Both researchers and practitioners in the field of RS may value the novelty and results of this study.

Adoption of electronic reference materials in academic libraries of Iran

Libraries have experienced a great deal of change in communication networks and information technology. The Iranian academic libraries, like other libraries, attempted to adopt the new information technology. It should be realized that although new information technologies and electronic resources are collected on a large scale by academic libraries they are not always used in the same scale. There are some factors, which affect the rate of adoption of each new technology. Rogers in his theory introduced these factors in five categories as relative advantage, observability, trial- ability, complexity and compatibility. This paper investigates the effects of different features of electronic reference materials on the rate of their adoption. Results show that the most effective factors in adoption of electronic reference materials are the ability of electronic reference materials to facilitate information retrieval, shortening the time of searching and fair cost of resources. In addition, it seems that the most problematic factors, which slow down the adoption of electronic reference materials, stem from unfamiliarity of academic librarians and users with computers and searching of databases.

Adoption of electronic reference materials in academic libraries of Iran

Libraries have experienced a great deal of change in communication networks and information technology. The Iranian academic libraries, like other libraries, attempted to adopt the new information technology. It should be realized that although new information technologies and electronic resources are collected on a large scale by academic libraries they are not always used in the same scale. There are some factors, which affect the rate of adoption of each new technology. Rogers in his theory introduced these factors in five categories as relative advantage, observability, trial- ability, complexity and compatibility. This paper investigates the effects of different features of electronic reference materials on the rate of their adoption. Results show that the most effective factors in adoption of electronic reference materials are the ability of electronic reference materials to facilitate information retrieval, shortening the time of searching and fair cost of resources. In addition, it seems that the ...

Status of Library Automation in Iranian Academic Libraries

This article is an attempt to illustrate the present state of automation in Iranian academic libraries. The findings of a survey conducted in 1991 form the basis of the discussions. The backdrop of library automation in Iran is described, and the survey conducted is explained in terms of methodology and findings. Computerisation of library services in Iranian academic libraries started in the late 1970s and after an apparent gap resumed in the late 1980s. Although still at its preliminary stages, the trend is rapid. At the present time the Unesco software, CDS/ISIS, is playing a major role in computerised library services in Iran. However, a number of local commercial software companies have emerged in the last few years who have developed library software based on other available commercial software, as well as locally developed ones. Some libraries have also been involved in development of library software. However, library automation in Iran is encountering some serious problems. Lack of networked bibliographic databases, unadjusted status of library education programs in regard to dealing with modern technologies and lack of structured strategic plans for library automation are the main problems that the Iranian academic libraries have to cope with.

Status of Library Automation in Iranian Academic Libraries

Status of Library Automation in Iranian Academic Libraries