Aim: This study aimed at exploring the barriers to the development of critical thinking in libraries, since inspections to the educational institutions reveals signs of significant barriers to development of appropriate environments for the growth of critical thinking.
Method: for the purpose of this study, researchers reviewed the literature by searching extensive number of books and databases, including Iran Doc, Scientific Information Database (SID), Ovid, Emerald, PubMed, Science Direct using keywords such as critical thinking in libraries, critical thinking barriers and critical thinking components.
Findings: This review led to drawing a chart of critical thinking barriers in libraries. These barriers can be classified in four areas of users, librarians, resources and organization.
Conclusion: Regarding the barriers introduced in this study, libraries and librarians should try to overcome them by holding educational workshops to enhance and optimize users’ skills in information seeking, formulation of search strategies and evaluation of information contents. In addition, library instruction tours can help users to enhance their self-esteem
