Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Mitra Pashootanizadeh ¹
• Maryam Akbari ²

¹ Assistant professor, Department of Knowledge and Information science. University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

² Expert of central library and documents center in university of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The main purpose of this research is to determine the security of the building and protection of the sources and information at the central library and documentation center of University of Isfahan and comparison with some Iranian and foreign libraries (the national library of Iran, the library of congress and the British library). The following subsidiary goals are pursued to attain the mentioned purpose:
1.    To determine the status of the security system in order to prevent the present sources at the central library and documentation center of University of Isfahan from attack and physical damage.
2.    To identify necessary training which has been taught for the staff and service workers at the central library and documentation center of University of Isfahan for protection and maintenance the sources, cleaning and getting responses to accidents such as fire and flood.
3.    To identify vital ideas which have been thought in the library building for the safety of the staff and users in the central library and documentation center of University of Isfahan.
4.    To determine the status of building security and protection the sources and information at the national library of Iran.
5.    To determine the status of building security and protection the sources and information at the library of congress and the British library.
Methodology: The present research which has been done using the descriptive survey is practical from the point of the view of the goal. In other words, the information had been provided regarding security status, protection and maintenance of the building and the central library complex and its different sections at University of Isfahan. Also, this information had been collected by interview with the chancellor of the University of Isfahan, supervisors, observation of the surrounding library and its equipment, studying the bylaw of protection and maintenance of the sources, equipment and surrounding libraries of the University of Isfahan. The information from the central library of University of Isfahan has been collected with the permission of the director of public relations and the administrator of the central library and documentation center of University of Isfahan. In the second part, the information relating to the national library of Iran, the library of congress and the British library is obtained. The information had been carried out by studying the handbooks existing at the websites of the libraries of the national library of Iran, the library of congress and the British library and interview with Reza Shahabi (the vice chancellor for research, planning and technology of the national library of Iran) and also sending questionnaire with five open questions to the administrators of the library of congress and the British library via E-mail.
Findings: Results of the research are divided into five general categories based on the collected information for every four libraries and they are shown in Table 1 in order to compare easily. The five categories are defined as follows:
1.    Protection and maintenance of information in physical scope
2.    Protection and maintenance of information in digital domain
3.    Security system for preventing the sources from damage
4.    Training the staff to protect and maintain the sources
5.    Safety of the staff and users
Discussion: The complex of the central library and documentation center of university of Isfahan like the world's great libraries has considered making different groups of library materials electrical. Also, no action has yet been taken in making archival materials such as newspapers, magazines and audiovisual materials electrical. Collections of books in the library are not well-suited and also cleaning of floors, stacks and books in the library is done by workers who have been not trained. In addition, no usage of pesticide, refurbishment and control on light, temperature and humidity have been carried out on the valuable complexes. None of the mentioned tips is done according to the bylaw which is compatible with the standards of the national library of Iran. The central library and documentation of University of Isfahan did not regard the rest of security tips about the field of preserving sources, information security and training the staff in comparison with the national library of Iran, the library of congress and the British library. Summarily, it could be stated that there is a considerable distance to reach the ideal acceptable status and the criteria and standards have not been regarded completely in the central library of University of Isfahan.

Keywords

• information security
• protection of information resources
• limitations
• Academic libraries
• Central Library and Document Center of University of Isfahan