Accessibility and Use of Electronic Journals at Iranian University Libraries

Today, e-journals play a significant role in meeting information needs of scholars. On the other hand, each year publishers demand higher costs for e-journals subscription. Librarians seek ways to assess the use of e-journals in order to determine how well they meet users\u27 needs and to justify increases in budget for e-journals acquisition. This study aimed to assess accessibility and use of e-journals by the research scholars at top ten university libraries affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) in Iran. Questionnaire was adopted for data collection and a total of 1380 research scholars participated in this study. It was found that the level of e-journals accessibility at university libraries affiliated to the MSRT in Iran was high. A great majority of research scholars were aware of e-journals at their libraries. Further, e-journals had been used more than medium level. Although research scholars belonging to Basic Sciences were known as the heaviest e-journals users, available e-journals met their information needs less than the other disciplines. The study suggested that the provision of e-journals have to be maintained and continued by Iranian university libraries concerning users’ preferences and characteristics especially users’ discipline

Accessibility and Use of Electronic Journals at Iranian University Libraries

Today, e-journals play a significant role in meeting information needs of scholars. On the other hand, each year publishers demand higher costs for e-journals subscription. Librarians seek ways to assess the use of e-journals in order to determine how well they meet users\u27 needs and to justify increases in budget for e-journals acquisition. This study aimed to assess accessibility and use of e-journals by the research scholars at top ten university libraries affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) in Iran. Questionnaire was adopted for data collection and a total of 1380 research scholars participated in this study. It was found that the level of e-journals accessibility at university libraries affiliated to the MSRT in Iran was high. A great majority of research scholars were aware of e-journals at their libraries. Further, e-journals had been used more than medium level. Although research scholars belonging to Basic Sciences were known as the heaviest e-journals users, available e-journals met their information needs less than the other disciplines. The study suggested that the provision of e-journals have to be maintained and continued by Iranian university libraries concerning users’ preferences and characteristics especially users’ discipline

Implementation of 5S Methodology in Public Libraries: Readiness Assessment

The main aim of this study is to investigate the readiness rate for implementing the 5S methodology in one of the greatest ancient public libraries in Iran and the Islamic world. The other objectives of this study are to determine the necessity and possibility of the 5S implementation in this library. The target population included all librarians, 110 people, working in the library departments who are in direct contact with users, out of whom 86 ones were selected randomly. After holding a training workshop on 5S, required data was collected by a self-made questionnaire. The research findings show that the librarians have a superb knowledge regarding the necessity of implementing the 5S in the library and according to them, implementing the 5S is relatively possible. Moreover, the library readiness, for implementing the 5S, has been discussed

Evaluation of Medical Librarians’ Level of Information and Communication Technology Skills Based on MLA Statements: A study in Iran

Due to the importance of ICT skills, several leading associations have released guidelines on needed ICT skills for librarians. In this study, Medical Library Association (MLA) statements on ICT skills were used for evaluating medical librarians’ level of information and communication technology expertise in Iran. A census sampling method was used. Chief Librarians working in college libraries affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) in Iran participated in this study. Findings showed that based on MLA’s skill statements, medical LIS professionals working in medical, dental and pharmacy colleges possessed adequate skill in communications and information infrastructure including the Internet and Web; inadequate skill in integration of systems and technologies; and applications in emerging areas of biomedicine, computational biology and health information; medium skill in basic principles of automated systems, data standards, and system analysis techniques including design and evaluation; acquisition, use, and evaluation of information technologies; and technological solutions for permanent access to electronic information

Iranian Young Adults’ Perceptions and Use of Public Library Services

The main objective of this survey was to know young adults’ perceptions and use of public libraries in Sabzevar, Iran. Research population included students aged 12 to 15 who were public library members and were using public library services several times in a year. According to Cochran sampling size formula, the sample size was calculated 180 persons that were chosen by random cluster sampling technique. Required data was gathered by a researcher made questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 20. The findings showed that the necessity of public library use was more than moderate extent from the young adults’ perspective. The use of loan services, reference services, and information services was more than moderate extent, while use of extension services was less than moderate extent. The main reason for public library use was use of library non-text books and educational aid books, and the main obstacle to use public library was huge amount of home work and lack of time. Further, there was a direct significant relationship between the use of public library services and socioeconomic and cultural status

An investigation into promotional methods of public library services and resources: Users’ perspective

The effect of library promotional methods on clients' use of library services and resources using a checklist and a questionnaire is studied. The target population was the clients of Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi, one of the greatest ancient public libraries in Iran and the Islamic world. It was found that the methods of traditional advertising and electronic direct marketing have a greater effect on using library services

Iranian Young Adults’ Perceptions and Use of Public Library Services

The main objective of this survey was to know young adults’ perceptions and use of public libraries in Sabzevar, Iran. Research population included students aged 12 to 15 who were public library members and were using public library services several times in a year. According to Cochran sampling size formula, the sample size was calculated 180 persons that were chosen by random cluster sampling technique. Required data was gathered by a researcher made questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 20. The findings showed that the necessity of public library use was more than moderate extent from the young adults’ perspective. The use of loan services, reference services, and information services was more than moderate extent, while use of extension services was less than moderate extent. The main reason for public library use was use of library non-text books and educational aid books, and the main obstacle to use public library was huge amount of home work and lack of time. Further, there was a direct significant relationship between the use of public library services and socioeconomic and cultural status

Interpreting the Value of Information Received From Library Sources in Clinical Decision-Making Experienced By Physicians and Residents

The medical profession currently has extensive information and knowledge of the latest valid scientific advances in disease diagnosis, treatment strategies, and patient care, and is used by physicians, but there is little evidence on the assessment the usefulness of information used by physicians in dealing with clinical problems. The aim of this study is to interpret the value of information received from library sources in clinical decision-making experienced by physicians and residents. The study is qualitative. The participants were 28 subjects including 13 specialists, 4 subspecialists, and 11 resident of healthcare educational centers of Birjand city chosen through purposeful sampling method. For data collection, semi-structured interview and for data analysis, Colaizzi seven stage method was used. 7 main themes were identified including clinical, cognitive, qualitative, status, Guidance, pedagogic and research and 34 subthemes. The results showed that information have been valuable from different aspects in clinical decision-making. Thus, providing and making up-to-date as well as relevant information accessible to the healthcare team should be the agenda of medical sciences libraries as well as healthcare policymakers

The Status of Librarians’ Communication Skills and the Effective Factors in Public Libraries

The main aim of this survey was to assess the status of librarians\u27 communication skills in public libraries of Mashhad, Iran. The research population included all the librarians (n = 70) employed in the public libraries. The desired sample (n=59) was selected based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table through simple random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire of communication skills was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed via the SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that the level of the librarians’ communication skills was undesirable and that there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the librarians’ communication skills in terms of demographic and professional characteristics

Implementation of 5S Methodology in Public Libraries: Readiness Assessment

The main aim of this study is to investigate the readiness rate for implementing the 5S methodology in one of the greatest ancient public libraries in Iran and the Islamic world. The other objectives of this study are to determine the necessity and possibility of the 5S implementation in this library. The target population included all librarians, 110 people, working in the library departments who are in direct contact with users, out of whom 86 ones were selected randomly. After holding a training workshop on 5S, required data was collected by a self-made questionnaire. The research findings show that the librarians have a superb knowledge regarding the necessity of implementing the 5S in the library and according to them, implementing the 5S is relatively possible. Moreover, the library readiness, for implementing the 5S, has been discussed