Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science

Analysis the strategic role of public libraries on Iran’s geopolitics of information

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahdi Deramnesari 1
Fahimeh Babalhavaeji 2
zahra abazari 3
Nadjla Hariri 4
fatemeh nooshnfard 4

1 Ph.D. student of Department of Communication & Knowledge Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Faculty member of Department of Communication & Knowledge Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Faculty member of Department of Library & Information science, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

4 Faculty member of Department of Communication & Knowledge Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22055/slis.2021.34459.1775
Abstract
Background and Objectives: A public library is a non-profit library, which is maintained for public use and funded by the government or the public sources. Unlike other libraries, public library satisfies general public information needs by providing all kinds of knowledge and information available to all segments of the community regardless of race, nationality, age, gender, religion, language, disability, economic and employment status. It may also provide other services to their communities such as, storytelling for children, after-school programs, language learning, seminars, workshops and other community services. One of the benefits of this research is to offer proposed solutions and lay the groundwork for developing a model for playing a strategic role of public libraries in geopolitics of information as a tool to measure the performance of libraries in this regard and the results can be used in public libraries and other relevant trustees, so, the main purpose of this study is to analyze the strategic role of the public libraries in the Iran Geopolitics of Information This is an applied research with a mixed method (qualitative-quantitative) approach.
Methodology: To collect qualitative information, a semi-structured interview has been used. In the quantitative part, a researcher-made questionnaire Based on the result of the qualitative part, has been used. The statistical population of the research in the qualitative section includes 13 experts and university professors who were selected by a purposeful method based on criteria and has been analyzed using qualitative content analysis method. The findings of quantitative part has been analyzed using factor analysis. The population of the quantitative part, included the head managers and deputies of the general administrations of the Iran's public libraries (70 people) and the librarians of the provinces that have main and central public libraries from five clusters of north, south, east, west and center of Iran, including 10 provinces & 160 librarians. 201 complete questionnaires were received.
Findings: Findings shows that, libraries have an implicitly role in strengthening cultural identity and increasing public awareness, especially in terms of strengthening Iranian-Islamic identity, as one of the three main components of geopolitics, but this role is not designed for a specific mission and It is also not clearly explained in upstream documents. Also, based on the findings, the centralized resources acquisition by the Iran Public Libraries Foundation for all public libraries in an integrated manner that there is not any clear role of users need in the selection process is inconsistent with the Free-Flow of Information approach.
Discussion: Centralized system of providing resources and public libraries materials, i.e. centralized purchase and distribution of resources by the public libraries of the country to all public libraries in Iran in an integrated way that users do not have an obvious and effective role in the selection process, is somewhat inconsistent with the definitions of free flow of information. Preserving and strengthening identity is one of the basic components in geopolitical issues. Information is considered as the main source of power. Governments have focused mainly on identity to develop their boundaries of geopolitics of information. Obviously, in order to prevent cultural interference and the infiltration of foreign identities in order to change the behavior and culture of a society and make it more consumer-oriented, people should to be well aware of their national identity and thus power as Soft defense power. Public libraries are one of the most important general databases, which can strengthen the soft defense infrastructure by disseminating information about the identity and national values of a community by raising public awareness. Therefore, national policymakers should consider the role of public libraries as a public discourse space in transmitting culture and information and a base for strengthening the power of soft defense, training and explaining the specific role for librarians, developing technological infrastructure of libraries, providing resources based on local needs and the audience needs, continuous and purposeful monitoring of activities and increasing the number of service recipients from public libraries. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to consider a few basic points: First, due to the geographical dispersion of public libraries in Iran, it is necessary for more people to use the services of libraries. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive audience attraction program is needed. Design and implement public libraries in a purposeful and mission-oriented manner. It's also necessary for librarians to receive targeted and necessary training to provide appropriate counseling and guidance services so that they'll can, in addition to general librarianship services, perform their duties as advisors to guide users in the right direction. The third important point is to pay attention to the information resource system required by libraries, in which the diversity of ethnic and cultural needs should be considered in order to gain more power through the saturation of cultural information in the community memory.

Keywords

Geopolitics of information
soft power
public libraries
cultural identity
Subjects
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Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science
Volume 16, Issue 1
Spring 2024
Pages 23-46

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