Original Article
Mohammad Hasanzadeh; Zeinab Ghayouri
Abstract
Introduction: The term "user studies" refers to the investigations on topics related to the users who deal with a type of user information. The range of studies for general users of the library is extensive and varied, and is associated with the methods and tools used to search for the information required ...
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Introduction: The term "user studies" refers to the investigations on topics related to the users who deal with a type of user information. The range of studies for general users of the library is extensive and varied, and is associated with the methods and tools used to search for the information required by the user, the use of information obtained, user consent or disagreement with the information obtained, the flow of information, and so on. The purpose of public library users' studies is to increase the dynamic interaction between the information source and the user and serve as a tool for systematically reviewing the characteristics and behavior of users in using public library systems and services and in direct connection with the effectiveness of service information and assessment the needs of User’s information. Studies in Iran show that the focus has been on issues and barriers and factors of using public library, library location and library services. Despite the various studies in Iran, there is still no light and adaptive between studies inside and outside the country and there is no study of the causes of the differences in focusing on subjects in internal and foreign studies; therefore, systematic reporting can play a significant role in this field. Therefore, the present study aims to summarize and report systematically and structurally the results of various studies conducted in the field of user studies for efficient and effective planning and policy making. Method: This research is in the field of library research. It’s purpose is to measure the research in the field of user studies. Information needed in the first step is to use the keyword search for user studies, user study, public library user studies, and the importance of user studies among Google Scholar, Scopus, JSTOR, and Science Direct databases and Keywords for user studies, public library users, users of public libraries, audience engagement among SIDs, Magiran's public databases, and the topic of research from the site of the Quarterly Journal of Research on Information Science and Public Libraries In order to identify and cover most of the published articles and documents, a certain timeframe for search was not selected. The criteria for entering the study include all studies conducted, including books, articles presented at conferences, as well as articles published in both Farsi and English. All articles were evaluated by two evaluators using existing checklist after extraction from the databases using the mentioned keywords. Among the foreign article, after the removal of items that had a weak relationship with the study objectives, 18 English articles were identified and 69 Persian sources were identified. Finally, 38 Persian articles were studied. After the study, the extracted information was summarized and analyzed manually. Table 1 and 2 show an overview of the articles under review. Findings:The findings of the review of the studies are presented in four sections, a. Distribution of the areas studied in user studies, b. Components and Sub-Components of User Studies, c. The relationship between variables and d. evolution of user studies. A. Research areas for user studies, Research areas of user studies in 14 areas of barriers to library use, factors of library use and reasons for inclining the library, library service and studies, user satisfaction, introducing effective methods of research into user studies, library resources, studying information needs, bibliography and introduction. The study of published studies, the identification of the local library community, the history of user studies, the study of non-users of the library, the analysis of the use of the library, the habits of studying individuals, the priority of users in the use of information channels were identified. B. Components in user studies The components of foreign history in the form of 16 components, library services, library resources, library location, accessibility Convenience and attractiveness of the library environment, librarians and staff, personal reasons, equipment, space, hours of library use, membership The needs of the audience, need assessment, digitization and technology infrastructure, the use of other types of cadres instead of public libraries, the establishment of user education courses, resource management training, organizational rules and regulations. C. Related variables affecting the use of public libraries Significant relationships reported in the studies were as follows: The relationship between income and the use of public libraries The relationship between education and the use of public libraries The relationship between Gender and the use of public libraries The relationship between age and the use of public library The relationship between leisure time and library use The relationship between the use of the Internet and the use of public libraries The Impact of Educational Institutions (University and School) "and" The Impact of the Family and the Use of the Public Library "on the use of the Library D. The evolution of user studies The evolution of user studies in the two periods before and after 1980 has been grouped among foreign backgrounds. The findings showed that the subjects, the statistical population was studied, the approaches and methods of research used in the period before and after the 1980s were different. In fact, the 1980s have been a turning point in the changes that have occurred in the field of user studies. conclusion: Findings about the relationship between variables in the internal and external studies show great differences, including in the internal studies, there is a negative relationship between increasing age, education, increasing leisure time and using public libraries. By increasing these components, Decreases the use of public library that the public library did not provide adequate resources and services for the elderly, and the people with a high level of education. Also, with increasing leisure time, fewer people go to the public library, which indicates the lack of attractiveness of the library for spending leisure time in the public library. While in foreign studies, with increasing age, the use of public libraries increases. Also, people with higher education are more likely to use the library (indicates the availability of appropriate resources and services for this group of people). Also, in foreign studies, people in their leisure time use more than a public library, and consider the library as a place to spend a quiet day, and also after having a busy day, it is preferable to go to the public library for relaxation elsewhere.
Original Article
Hooshang Hakimi
Abstract
Purpose: Quality evaluation of the provincial centers’ websites affiliated to Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) based on FAO indicesMethodology: This is an applied research that used a descriptive survey with a webometrics approach to evaluate content and structural ...
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Purpose: Quality evaluation of the provincial centers’ websites affiliated to Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) based on FAO indicesMethodology: This is an applied research that used a descriptive survey with a webometrics approach to evaluate content and structural factors of 38 websites of the provincial centers affiliated to Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) by Web Quality Assurance Checklist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), containing 121 indices under 4 general indices.Findings: The evaluation showed "average" score in content quality, "good" in accessibility, usability and search engine optimization, "average" in Interface and technical quality, "average" in regular monitoring and review, and "average" in general. None of the centers’ websites could reach to the levels of FAO indices. The major problems were: the lack of attention to using standards in website design portal, lack of scientific citations, lack of second language for scientific communication and exchange with international scientific communities, existence of discrete links and blank pages, template bugs, and lack of inserting copy right.Conclusion: Average level in general for the websites due to the existence of some essential problems is not desired and need to amend with expert designers, qualified managers and redesign with accredited website design standards.
Original Article
Manizheh Torabi Alamuti; Dariush Matlabi; Fahimeh Babalhavaeji; Nadjla Hariri
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The main purpose is to provide a qualitative book distribution model in Iran. Identifying the status of book distribution, factors and elements affecting book distribution, issues and problems of book distribution, and strategies to promote book distribution in Iran are among ...
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Background and Objectives: The main purpose is to provide a qualitative book distribution model in Iran. Identifying the status of book distribution, factors and elements affecting book distribution, issues and problems of book distribution, and strategies to promote book distribution in Iran are among the sub-objectives of the article.Methodology: The research is applied in terms of purpose, qualitative in terms of approach, and grounded theory in terms of research method. Data is collected through a series of semi-structured interviews. The statistical population of the study included ten experts in the field of book distribution and publishing in Iran, all of whom were active in the field of distribution. Some of them also produce or sell in addition to distribution. Two distribution experts were first purposefully identified, and the next individuals were introduced through the snowball method. The interviews continued until the theoretical saturation was reached. MAXQDA software was used to analyze the data obtained from the interview. At this stage, by carefully examining the data, first the concepts, then the categories and subcategories (characteristics) were determined. After identifying the main category through the paradigm of contexts, causal conditions, main strategies, intervening variables and consequences of book distribution in Iran were identified.Findings: The research findings express the status of distribution in Iran with the following categories: government interference in distribution, low demand, lack of reading culture, weakening of bookstores, investment risk, unprofitability, legal problems, union interference, lack of use of technology, weakness of trade unions, inadequate distribution and diversity of small distributors. Positive and negative factors affecting book distribution include categories of government support, political changes, proper oversight laws, distribution economics, economic status of the people, high profitability, publishing economics, demand, distribution concentration in Tehran, distribution professionalism, professional processes and procedures of distribution, book quality, trade union interaction, specialized distribution, audience needs assessment, advertising and marketing, the relationship between distributors and other factors of production and consumption, legal protections, proportionality between publishers, distributors and booksellers, trade unions, distribution class recognition, the proportion between production and consumption, proper supply showcase, having a comprehensive statistical system and new technologies. Issues and problems of book distribution in Iran are found in the following categories: unprincipled support of publishing, weakness of regulatory and supportive institutions, lack of effective supervision over the publishing industry, lack of supervision over book distribution, lack of reading culture, advertising costs, lack of return on investment, uneconomical distribution profession, uneconomical publishing, book price increase, bookstore economics, weak laws, trade union interference, lack of comprehensive information system, book smuggling, unprofessional distribution, unprofessional publishing, lack of supply showcase, low book quality, unprofessional bookstores, the diversity of small distributors, the disregard for advertising in distribution, and the lack of universal distribution. Findings from the research with the following categories suggest strategies for improving the distribution of books in Iran: increase the supply and display of books, prevent bookmaking, government support, strengthen distribution, increase the supply and display of books, strengthen the professional knowledge of publishers, distributor and publisher information interaction, strengthening professional distributors, formulating appropriate laws and regulations, introducing and encouraging selected works, non-interference of the government in the field of distribution, preventing trade union interference, designing and implementing the appropriate model and creating comprehensive statistical and information system.Discussion: In terms of political characteristics, lack of appropriate protections, appropriate laws and regulations, in terms of cultural characteristics, weak reading culture and low demand for books, in terms of economic characteristics, the most important of which are lack of profitability or very low profit in distribution, inflation and book prices, in terms of infrastructure characteristics, union interference and lack of supply showcase and lack of comprehensive information system and in terms of professional characteristics, unprofessional factors and a large number of small distributors and the impossibility of advertising, are important factors in creating this situation. One of the reasons for the weakness of the distribution sector is the infancy of the profession and the lack of knowledge of distributors in introducing and convincing booksellers to buy books, which is in dire need of strengthening and support. The impact of the general policies of the government and government institutions, especially the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, on removing barriers, issues and problems of distribution is very instructive. Because the distribution profession is an intermediary between the producer and the consumer, the success of these professions is not ineffective and separate from each other. Targeted government support activates the book cycle and ultimately eliminates the shortcomings of this chain. Government oversight and justice not only boosts the distribution sector, but also the book industry in all sectors (production, distribution, sales), but this support should oversee the creation of book-related infrastructure.
Original Article
English Issue
sahar pazhohnia; zoya abam; roya baradar
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Emergency literacy skills include a set of initial and prerequisite skills to teach children's school literacy. Emergency literacy skills include two areas of reading (with word decoding subcategories, words recognition, letters recognition, phonetics and phonological) and ...
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Background and Objectives: Emergency literacy skills include a set of initial and prerequisite skills to teach children's school literacy. Emergency literacy skills include two areas of reading (with word decoding subcategories, words recognition, letters recognition, phonetics and phonological) and writing (with alphabetic knowledge subcategories, printing concepts comprehension, hand and eye coordination, and letters sequence). Emergency literacy skills are assessed at five levels: visual knowledge, phonetics knowledge, alphabetic knowledge, vocabulary knowledge, and Oral language skills. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of teaching to approach e-book, printed books and traditional education on preschool children's emergency skills.Methodology: The research was applied in terms of purpose, which is done by experimental method. The data were collected using a questionnaire, consisting of the materials of the Wechsler pre-school Intelligence sensing test, the Metropolitan Academic Readiness Test and the Learning Disorders Treatment. The research consisted of two experiment groups (teaching by e-books and printed books) and one control group (traditional teaching). The research community consisted of children aged 4.5 to 6 years living in Isfahan. The target community consisted of three kindergartens in the average area of Isfahan, which was selected by available sampling method. Being in the age of 4.5 to 6 years, lack of mental retardation, lack of taking the medicine, and lack of specific physical and mental illness formed the criteria for entering the sample. After selecting the sample, the research intervention was done through training through an e-learning book, a printed book and traditional teaching. Also, before and after intervention, the pre-test and post-test of the study was taken from children at the same time by means of measuring instruments. The training phase was conducted in 5, 40-minute sessions and five skills of visual knowledge, alphabetic, phonology, vocabulary, oral narration were taught. After completing the stages of main training, the post-test stage was three days after the last educational session and was implemented in the same pre-test and main test location. Then, scoring versions were collected and investigated for statistical analysis. The obtained data from this research were analyzed by SPSS software and in approach covariance analysis method. According to the research tools that included the questionnaire and the obtained scores, first the scores of each questionnaire were analyzed and then, the pre-test and post-test scores of each child were compared with the child himself. Finally, by entering the gender variable, the difference of the scores of girls and boys is examined.Findings: Findings of the present study showed that education through e-books and printed books as extracurricular education can have a significant effect on acquiring or increasing the emergency literacy skills of preschool children. Therefore, kindergartens, preschools, children's libraries can, in conjunction with other educational activities, along with education specialists, develop basic skills and literacy in children before they arrive. Strengthen the school.Discussion: In explaining the general hypothesis of research on the significant effect of electronic and printing teaching method than traditional method, it can be said that preschool children's educational system is based on elementary educations and daily child care, which sometimes doesn't meet all children's educational needs. In the meantime, the entry of a wonderful program in the children's daily routine can have a double effect on their learning. In addition, e-learning can be helpful for learning because it is accompanied by attractive visual and auditory stimuli, the use of a variety of colors and sounds, and as a new tool and experience. Also, according to the results, there is no significant difference between girls and boys present in the three tentative groups in terms of the effectiveness of the educational method. This research finding can be a factor in challenging society's cultural beliefs about differences in attention, concentration, reading skills, writing, and math skills among girls and boys. Also, the results of comparing the two experimental groups (e-book and printed book) showed that teaching by e-book than printed book significantly increases the chances of pre -school children's emergency literacy skills.
Original Article
Jale Narimisaei
Abstract
Purpose: One of the hottest topics in recent years in the Artificial Intelligence community, as well as in the web community, is the Semantic Web. It has gained the attention of many researches in e-learning field. Thus, the purpose of paper is to review the architecture of the Semantic Web, to review ...
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Purpose: One of the hottest topics in recent years in the Artificial Intelligence community, as well as in the web community, is the Semantic Web. It has gained the attention of many researches in e-learning field. Thus, the purpose of paper is to review the architecture of the Semantic Web, to review key concepts in e-learning and to categorize and examine the application of the most important concepts of semantic Web (such as Intelligent Agents, Resource Description Framework (RDF), Concept Map, Ontologies, and Linked Data) in a variety of e-learning systems (including web-based courses, learning content management systems (LCMS) and Adaptive and intelligent web-based educational systems).Methodology: This is an analytical review (systematic) and the library research methods have been used to collect and analyze the information.Findings: After categorizing and examining different concepts of the semantic web and their application in e - learning systems, it was observed some studies have been conducted to create a repository of meaningful and reusable learning resources, The meaningful design of the whole components of the educational system, to assess students' skills and guide them, to propose adaptive course materials based on the learning behavior of students, knowledge construction and representation in a meaningful way, to find the right resources at a faster pace, to build collaborative and interoperability learning content management systems (LCMS) and improve queries in them. Conclusion: According to the studies, integration of e-learning and semantic web improve the quality of learning and enhance the performance of learning systems.
Original Article
zeinab mohammadi; zahed bigdeli; manigeh shehniyailagh
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the multiple relationships between information literacy standards and critical thinking among graduate students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.Methodology: The present study is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of ...
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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the multiple relationships between information literacy standards and critical thinking among graduate students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.Methodology: The present study is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of this study is all graduate students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, which was 4552 people, of which 204 were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using two questionnaires of information literacy Khalil Dezfuli (2018) and California Critical Thinking Test Form B (1998) and analyzed using SPSS software version 22.Results: Data analysis using multivariate regression by ENTER method showed that the components of information literacy (need for information, access to information, evaluation of information, use of information) predict critical thinking and the component of "information evaluation" is the strongest. It predicts critical thinking. Also, the multiple correlation coefficient (R) was equal to 0.42, which is a significant value, the value of the coefficient of determination (R2) was equal to 0.18. This means that predictive variables explain 18% of the variance of critical thinking. Also, data analysis showed that the standard of "intellectual property and property rights" has no effect on increasing critical thinking.Conclusion: Therefore, according to the findings of the present study, information literacy was shown to be a skill that can predict critical thinking. Paying attention to these two skills can be effective in advancing the goals of higher education. In addition, applying the framework of information literacy standards can provide the foundation for critical thinking and independent learning. It is recommended to hold workshops to acquaint all students with information literacy skills and to teach them these skills so that in the future, people can be delivered to the community who are at a high level in terms of information literacy and critical thinking skills. Appeared.
Original Article
seyednooroddin anvariyan; Gholamreza Heidari; zouhayr Hayati
Abstract
A survey of users' attitudes toward the establishment of Fars mobile public library.Objectives: This study aimed to identify and measure features and characteristics of mobile libraries on the bases of users' wiewpoints.Method:According to the objective of the study the expectations and demands from ...
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A survey of users' attitudes toward the establishment of Fars mobile public library.Objectives: This study aimed to identify and measure features and characteristics of mobile libraries on the bases of users' wiewpoints.Method:According to the objective of the study the expectations and demands from “Fars Mobile Public Library” were assessed. The degree of users' agreement with these indicators was also measured. The research population were all public library users in Fars province of Iran, which were over 129215 people. The sample size was determined by applying Cochrane’s formula, which returned 384 users.Findings: Users' demands and expectations were assessed against 52 items in two sections of users' interface (23 items) and programs and services (29 items) of the Fars Moblie Public Library. The results revealed that users agreed with all items of these two sections to a very good extent.Conclusion: The results of the study lead to identification of characteristics and features which Fars Moblie Public Library should have on the bases of users's expectations and demands.
Original Article
Ali Akbar Khasseh; laila zamani; Faramarz soheili
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the quality of services provided by mobile websites of Iranian academic libraries.Research method: This research uses a quantitative content analysis methodology. In this research, using a purposive sample, 20 top universities affiliated to the Ministry of Science ...
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Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the quality of services provided by mobile websites of Iranian academic libraries.Research method: This research uses a quantitative content analysis methodology. In this research, using a purposive sample, 20 top universities affiliated to the Ministry of Science Research and Technology (MSRT), and 20 top Islamic Azad Universities (IAU) listed in ISC have been chosen. Data gathering tool is a standard checklist by Torres-Pérez (2016) which evaluates the quality of services. Findings: The results indicated that the quality of services in mobile websites of MSRT is higher than average, and IAU’s are lower than average. In the ranking of service quality, Tehran University, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, and University of Mazandaran acquired highest scores. Also, the results revealed that there is no correlation between rankings based on the quality of academic libraries' services and their university ranking in the ISC.Conclusion: Considering the wide range of users, it seems that paying attention to the quality of services in the design of the mobile website of academic libraries makes it easier for users to visit it, use more library services, and eventually increase the efficiency of library services.
Original Article
Najmeh Poustizadeh; Fariborz Foroutan
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between employee empowerment and the quality of information services in academic libraries of Khuzestan province.Methodology: The research method was descriptive survey with a causal approach. Using simple ...
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Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between employee empowerment and the quality of information services in academic libraries of Khuzestan province.Methodology: The research method was descriptive survey with a causal approach. Using simple random sampling method 132 of employees was selected from a total of 200 employees of academic libraries. Data were gathered through Minnesota's standard job satisfaction questionnaire, Spritzer and Mishra empowerment questionnaire (1997), and the quality of services provided by Moghimi and Ramadan (2011). Data were analyzed using structural equation analysis with LISREL 8.8 software.Findings: The results of the structural equation test showed that there was a linear relationship between the research variables and the path analysis results showed that empowerment variable has the significant impact (directly and indirectly) on the quality of information services. In spite of the mediator variable (job satisfaction), the effect of the empowerment variable on the quality of information services increases indirectly.Conclusion: Results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between job satisfaction, empowerment and the quality of information services. So, based on the determination coefficient, about 40% of the quality of information services and empowerment of employees depends on their job satisfaction; and the empowerment is far more contributing to comparing with other variables in predicting the quality of information services.
Original Article
zivar sabaghinejad; Fereydon Azadeh; Nasrin Safarzadeh
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the observance of persuasive design elements and provide appropriate strategies for better management of the central library website of universities affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the country. Method: The research is ...
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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the observance of persuasive design elements and provide appropriate strategies for better management of the central library website of universities affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the country. Method: The research is an applied and has conducted by website evaluation method. The population under study is the website of the Central Library of Iran Medical Sciences Universities and ranked according to the latest research results of medical universities of Iran in 1395. Results: The results of this study indicated that the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences websites ranked first among the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation and Shahid Beheshti, Ahvaz, Bushehr and Babol, ranking third in the rankings of universities. Conclusion: The results of the 8-dimensional study of persuasive design on the websites under review indicate that designers of Iranian university websites have paid more attention to the attractiveness of the website. Also, according to the results of this study, it seems that the designers of the websites are least focused on issues such as the possibilities that engender and engage the user more with the library site, as well as the ability to personalize.
Original Article
Ahmad Zandvanian; Fatemeh sadat Mirhosseini Niri; Maryam Kian
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the components of Plesk's creativity model in the story books of age group “B” children in Yazd city.Method: Descriptive-survey method and content analysis were used. The statistical population consisted of all boy and girl students of the ...
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the components of Plesk's creativity model in the story books of age group “B” children in Yazd city.Method: Descriptive-survey method and content analysis were used. The statistical population consisted of all boy and girl students of the first, second and third grade elementary schools (age group B) in the academic year of 2017-2018 (12933 students), of which 1000 samples were selected using Cluster randomization. Then the most readable children's books were extracted through a survey, which ultimately included twenty story books. The research tools included a researcher-made questionnaire and the Plesk creativity checklist.Findings: The findings showed that the "snowy white" has the highest frequency of studying among children, and "Hazrat-e- Fatemeh" has the lowest frequency. Also, in the text of the story books, among the components of the Plesk creativity model, the component of "attention" has been used in all the books, but some other components, such as "narrowing the concept" and "Inversion" has been less considered. In addition, in the story books, the "reinforcement" component is not absolutely used. In general, in story books, the element "nutrition of fantasy" is considered in order to pave the way for the growth of child's imagination, and the need to pay more attention to other neglected elements of creativity in these books seems necessary.
