Iranian Journal of Information Processing & Management
Year:2009 | Volume:24 | Issue:2 (56)|Papers Count:16

Given the importance and wide scope of Wi-Fi applications within academic environs in developed countries and its use in library services, its utilization within academic libraries in Iran is felt. While presenting Wi-Fi networks, the present study employed a survey of librarians and faculty members in Shiraz University to investigate their outlook and viewpoints regarding the deployment of such networks in academic libraries. Findings demonstrated that librarians are very inclined to use Wi-Fi in library services such as listing, shelf-reading and OPAC and demand comprehensive network coverage throughout the entire library spaces. Meanwhile, faculty members expressed the necessity of increasing use of such networks all over the campus and remote access to library resources. Generally given the outcome of the present investigation, although Wi-Fi application in libraries is a novel and emerging phenomenon yet to catch on in Iran, librarians, researchers and professors are very keen about its use and application within academic environments.

The present study intended to study the state of information seeking among 158 graduate students in University of Tehran and examine its correlation with students’ epistemological beliefs. A survey employing two sets of questionnaires was carried out. One set was devised by the author while the other was Schommer's 63-item epistemological beliefs questionnaire. Findings indicated that there is a positive significance at 0.05 level between knowledge organization and students’ information relevancy judgments. Furthermore there is a positive significance at 0.001 level between knowledge management and time allocation. Learning speed and internalization of past knowledge however displayed a negative significance at 0.01 level. No significance was observed among the rest of epistemological beliefs aspects with other aspects of information seeking behavior.

Citation analysis is a credible bibliometric method in which scholarly texts are examined based on reviewing the citations assigned. The present paper employs citation analysis to review the citations to the articles appearing in five scholarly journals in library and information sciences (Ketabdari va Etela Resani Astan-i-Quds, Ketab Quarterly, Oloom va Fanavari Etela’at Quarterly, Ketabdari, Etela Shenasi) from 2002 to 2006. Using Morgan’s formula, 252 articles were selected from a total of 732. Each journal’s share was determined by the number of articles in this sample. Findings indicated that these 252 articles were cited 2410 times. In general, the average citation per article was 9.52. 39 percent of citations were to journals, closely followed by books with 27.59 percent. Least citation was made to reference sources with 0.91 percent. Persian language journals had higher citations (12.94 percent) than English language journals. 81.74 percent of the articles published were authored while 18.26 percent were translations. Fifty instances of self-citations, or 2.07 percent of total citations, were observed. Authors concentrated more on ten Persian and English Journals, with Ketabdar Quarterly topping the list. Horri with 27 citations was the highest cited author, and Assadullah Azad with 8 citations was the most highly cited translator.

The present study examines the information needs of the students at faculty of management and accounting at Allameh tabatabaie University. A survey method was employed in which 490 questionnaires were distributed. Data analysis indicated that among formal sources of information, book, dissertation, specialist journals and research reports have the highest usage respectively. On the other hand important resources such as abstracts and indexes are very under-utilized. Among Electronic Resources, internet had the highest percentage of usage. Yet scientific networks containing scientific and specialist databases such as the Rosnet and Daneshyar are seldom used. Following a detailed analysis of the outcome, some suggestions are offered.

The present paper deals with the role of played by knowledge management in organizations and its impact on their improved operations, including libraries. The KM mission within an organization is to transform the tacit knowledge of employees into an important source for decision making as well as proactive documentation of explicit knowledge for achieving organizational goals. The closer man’s abilities, understanding, cognition and information are matched, the more one could be optimistic about generation of a more effective and applied knowledge. Nowadays organizations should not solely consider their financial holdings as their assets, rather the collective knowledge of those employed within an organizations are one of its most important asset on which the management must duly invest.

Due to diversity and quick dissemination of information, journals have a higher number of audiences when compared with other information carriers. Nevertheless with the emerging new information technologies have contributed to the appeal and thriving of journals, Open Access Journals in particular. The present paper intends initially to discuss the open access movement that gave rise to the emergence of open access journals. It would then introduce modes of open access as well as the characteristics and definitions associated with OAJ. This would be followed up by a classification of OAJ along with their advantages. Means for financing such journals as well as directory of open access journals would be also discussed. Finally, the OAJ covered by ISI as well as those published by the top 20 countries who lead science production are presented.

School library represents one of the important locations suited for offering reference services. The skill set necessary in order to use information resources, is called information literacy. When discussing information literacy and means of enhancing it, the first thing that comes to mind is the classroom for it is in schools that the foundation for learning skills is laid. Pathfinders have been used by libraries and librarians for guiding patrons to the required sources and answering their research questions since 1970’s. It is far different from a bibliography in as much as it does not necessarily include a complete list of available resources on a given topic. Nevertheless it provides sufficient basic resources for research for the patrons. Nowadays pathfinders are prepared by teacher-librarian or with the help of teachers at school so as to assist students in searching their prescribed assignments. The present paper offers definition of pathfinder, creation of pathfinders in schools, type of pathfinders, pathfinders characteristics, pathfinder elements as well as how to design pathfinders for children and teenagers.

This article considers the many developments in technology and practice that are making libraries more connected and interdependent. It looks at new integrated online services and reviews the increasing importance of both formal and informal standards. Global centralized Web services are discussed. The relationships between information industry companies and libraries are considered. Virtual reference services and far-reaching digitization projects are explored. The article concludes that close cooperation is allowing libraries to take their services to new levels and is a key to the continued innovation of those services.