LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
Year:2013 | Volume:16 | Issue:2 (62)|Papers Count:14

Purpose: Regarding market structure and characteristics of information goods, common pricing methods are not useful for these goods. So, it is necessary to adopt strategies that fit the characteristics of this particular item. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and describe appropriate strategies for information goods pricing.Methodology: This paper is conceptual paper which has conducted using library method to collect data.Findings /Results: It seems that price discrimination strategies and bundling are very efficient in information goods pricing. Price discrimination and its types including first degree, second degree and third degree discriminations as well as bundling and its types including bundling with marginal cost and bundling without marginal cost are described in the paper. It concludes that the above strategies to be applied properly, maximum profit for the producer and maximum utility for the consumer can be achieved. Thus, information goods market becomes socially efficient.Originality: This paper addresses the issue of information goods pricing in a detailed manner. So, it could be of interest to information professionals, information goods producers and those who are interested in the information economy.

Purpose: User-centered paradigm is a critical approach for the development of activities including library software in library and information centers. Although the design of initial library softwares was based on system-oriented approach, in recent days user-centered library systems which have higher usability standards have been taken more into consideration. The aim of this survey research is to examine the opinions of the users of this Ferdowsi University Central Library about the usability of Simorgh.Methodology: The information was gathered via three instruments: questionnaire, observation (of the users’ behavior while using and searching Simorgh via a film recorder) and thinking-aloud technique. Four usability criteria, (that is, search, representation, vocabulary, user interface and helps) were theoretical concepts underpinning the questionnaire and the analysis of the collected data. The sample of this study included 30 students (15 bachelor and 15 Post-graduates).Findingsl Results: The findings reveal that, although this software has changed several times, it seems it is based more .on a system-oriented paradigm rather than a user-centered paradigm.

Purpose: The aim of this research was to develop and propose a model for assessing the readiness of Iranian university libraries for electronic commerce.Methodology: In the first part, content analysis of existing models in the e-readiness (29 models), models adopting e-commerce (9 models) and the review of the literature of JCT on library science were carried out for identification of the dimension of e-readiness and comprehensive theoretical framework; also ranked values of dimensions in the studied models were determined. In the second part, a case study was done for determining the importance of dimensions in statistical population of Isfahan university libraries. The Statistical method was factor analysis and tools of this research were 4 developed questionnaires. Then, these dimensions were rated-up based on their importance. Finally the mean of ranked values that every dimension obtained from the first and second stages was used for designing the model.Findings/Results: 17 dimension in 2 categories are identified for assessing the e-readiness level. That are hard readiness consisting accessibility and readiness of information and communication infrastructure and soft readiness consisting organizational features, informational readiness, services and activities based on information and communication technology, communication with the external environment (other organizations), ruler and politics and strategies relating to information and communication technology and e- commerce, financial readiness, security of information, human resources, information and communication technology usage, culture of electronic commerce, management’s readiness, the readiness of products for e-readiness, customer factors, suppliers factors and competitors factors. In the case study, Information and communication technology usage has the maximum importance (0.987) and competitors’ factor has the minimum importance (0.589) on e-readiness in Isfahan universities and higher education institutes libraries. Based on the findings a 17 -dimensional model assessing e-readiness level was designed for Iranian university libraries and model.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate Persian thesauri of Islamic sciences in terms of four dimensions of form construction, semantic relationships, displaying controlled vocabularies, and .management systems, based on the latest version of the ANSIINISO z39.19 2005 standard Methodology: The research method utilized in this study is the analytical survey method. The thesauri under study were on Islamic ethics, fundamentals of jurisprudence, Kalam, Islamic philosophy, Quranic sciences, Quran and logic. The research instrument used in this study was. check list defined in Microsoft Excel a Findings/Results: The results of the study indicated a highest level of observance of the standards in the thesauri under study. With regard to semantic relations with the average 97% and then the form construction dimension with the average 95.5%.The lowest level of observance of the standards in the thesauri under study. With regard to management dimension with the average 46% .and then the displaying controlled vocabularies dimension with the average 77% it is concluded that possessing the required expertise, familiarity with the standards of thesauri construction, utilizing appropriate models, taking the needs of the end users into consideration, reviewing and revising information storage and retrieval policies, and activation of the indexing and the reference sections of the libraries for registering the users’ documents are among the major .factors which can lead to the construction of more effective and efficient thesauri.

Purpose: Evaluation and critique of scholarly works is one of the most important phases in scientific production cycle. Reviewers need some skills about the rules and principles of writing good reviews. This study aims to investigate the effect of book review training course on the awareness, attitude and skill of faculty members at the Faculty of Management and Medical Information ofIsfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012.Methodology: This research is an applied and Semi-experimental investigation (with pre-test and post-test). Statistical population included 86 faculty members. The sample was 15 members in the case and control groups. One checklist and two questionnaires were the means of data collection.Findings/Results: Results showed that mean of awareness grade after training course was increased and there was a significant difference between awareness grade in pre-test and post-test (p-value<0.001) in case group. The same can be said about skill of book review (p-value<0.001). But the participants’ attitude toward book review in pre-test and post-test remained the same (p-value=0.11). In other words, their attitude was at the desirable levels from the beginning. This study showed a significant influence of training course on participants’ book reviewing skill and awareness. But attitude toward book reviews was in good level from the beginning to the end and remained mostly unchanged.

Purpose: This article aims to study domains in Library & Information Science (LIS) in which the communication theories can introduce better solutions to analysis and research issues. For this purpose, some domains in LIS, that could be useful with respect to communication theories are taken into consideration.Methodology: Conceptual Analysis approach was used for the study. This approach, that is an analysis method for theoretical problems, could be used for extending a theory or groups of theories .of a thinker or school to get new solution to problems of a research domain Findings/Results: thinkers of both LIS & Communication Science have a relative consensus that these two fields have common interests and they are undividable in many domains of analysis. However, the presence of Communication Science in LIS has only been limited to the librarian- user interaction and rarely got beyond that. In this paper three main domains are discussed at three levels (the book, the library, & the librarian. (Originality/Value: Communication Science & LIS have a common object of study, namely Message/Information. Despite the object of study in LIS that is commonly information as thing, but this thing has content, a format and a whole that lives in the context of society and acts as a message or sign. Thus it could not be distinct from communication, persuasion, audience, and social context. This study intends to highlight these issues.

Purpose: The present study aims to examine the knowledge flow among inventors as presented in . the patents based on geographical distribution indexes.Methodology: Using network analysis methodology, this survey tries to give a complete view of knowledge flow in patents in the fields of Electricity & Electronics as indexed in USPTO Web patent.Finding/ Results: Regarding measures of centrality, results indicated that countries such as the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Taiwan, and South Korea have more influence on the network of inventors than others. Data analysis also showed that “citation” can be used as. criterion a proper criterion for evaluating knowledge flow.Findings/Results: The pattern of Inventor’s Network in the field of Electricity & Electronics can be divided into three categories: powerful countries, active countries, and powerless countries. Cooperation among these groups forms the network of knowledge flow in the two areas. Based on research findings, interested countries can use the model of knowledge flow network. Moreover, the findings revealed that with the continuation of cooperation of active countries in the network of knowledge flow in both areas, it can be expected that a number of countries, such as Iran, may end up to appear in the category of powerful countries in the network of inventors.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the concept of persuasive technology and investigate persuasive principles. Until recently, most information systems applications and technologies were designed and developed without much thought to how they influenced their users. Information system designers have considered user perspective with respect to facilitating use and making information resources accessible. However, accessibility and ease of use are not enough without the conscious attempt to influence users to use. In recent years, persuasive technology is rapidly growing. The aim of persuasive technology is to change people’s attitudes and behavior to encourage people to behave in certain ways.Methodology: In this discussion we outline and describe Fogg’s approach to persuasive technology in order to identify its applications for LIS domain. The research by Library and Information science .domain more than other domains work on user interactions with technologies Findings/Results: LIS domain can benefit from persuasive technology to eliminate challenges in this domain. It can benefit from it to inform and encourage the user to use the library and websites and take advantage of these systems. This paper addresses some usages of persuasive designs in LIS domain by presenting examples and outlines eight steps to follow as best practices in the early stages of persuasive technology design.

Purpose: This research aimed to study the status of satisfaction of users regarding their communication with librarians and the effective factors influencing it.Methodology: A questionnaire was used in this survey for collecting data. Research population .consisted of undergraduate students of third and fourth years of education Findings/Results: Findings showed that the most important factors influencing the satisfaction of students about librarians are: to be interested in serving patrons, signs and movements, being aware of the presence of others, refusing the use of particular words, active listening, satisfactory end for interaction, the tone of voice and the control of feelings. Also there is a significant direct relationship between the degree of communication skills of librarians and the satisfaction of students from communicating with librarians. Another finding of research showed that the degree of satisfaction of students from communicating with librarians was good and there was a significant difference between the extent of satisfaction of students from communicating with librarians among the four areas of study. Moreover, the examination of the effect of gender on satisfaction of students revealed that there was no significant relationship between satisfaction of students and. cornmunicating with the same sex and opposite sex librarians.

Purpose: This study aims to identify and study the core elements and basic level description of bibliographic records of Iranian digital libraries based on the core elements defined in Resource description and access (RDA).Methodology: This applied research was carried out by a survey- descriptive method. Research population involved examining two groups of Iranian digital library web-sites. A checklist was used for data gathering.Findings/Results: Survey descriptive elements used in the bibliographic records of two groups of Iranian digital libraries were identified and compared with each other. Also their compliance with the core elements of work, expression, manifestation and item were studied. The paper introduces the core elements which necessarily have to be present in digital library’s bibliographic records. The attributes for each of the entities of RDA should be based on users’ needs defined in Conceptual models of RDA. The functions of core elements that are subset of RDA elements are also based on users’ needs. The understanding these elements are easily carried by the user and also theirs processing by computer will be easily done. Thus, digital libraries can offer their basic level description according to these elements to provide more meaningful displays of bibliographic records and help users to find their needs easily.

Purpose: Protection of material rights requires that any use of work is considered impossible if the copyright holder is not Satisfied. Sometimes, for reasons such as public interest will the use of work is permitted without the necessary consent of the author. This paper aims to discuss the important role of libraries in information dissemination with regards to legal systems and attempts to present a different perspective about the possibility of copying the works.Methodology: This paper uses a descriptive, analytical and comparative approach to legal systems including USA, France and Iran.Findings/Results: Analysis and interpretation of relevant legislation indicated that copying by libraries is one of the exceptions to the copyright law, but there are differences in the scope of permissible copying by libraries. Legislators in some countries such as U.S. have allowed all three types of copying: request by users, preservation and replacement and inter- library loan; While provisions in some countries (such as France) has allowed copying for request by users and preservation and replacement and some countries have accepted only copying for request by users. It seems that Iran is in the third place. Therefore, providing better services by the library requires that copying for preservation and placement and inter-library loan are clearly stated in the rules.

Purpose: the aim of this paper was to construct and validate a scale to measure the factors promoting and inhibiting scientific collaboration among faculty members of Shahid Charnran University and Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences of Ahvaz.Methodology: This is an applied research using survey method. Its questionnaire was made by researchers and the Questionnaires formal validity was calculated and its reliability was determined through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient a = 0.94. The population of this research included 292 faculty members of both universities: Shahid Charnran University of Ahvaz and Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. From a total of 292 questionnaires which were distributed, 188 (64.38%) were retuned.Findings/Results: 13 main factors were extracted by conducting a factor analysis. Six of those factors were about encouraging and the rest of them were obstacle factors. In General, The above results indicate that the scientific collaboration questionnaire is an appropriate and creditable tool in evaluating the encouraging and preventing factors of scientific collaboration among academic members of Shahid Chamran University and Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences of Ahvaz.