Iranian Journal of Information Processing & Management
Year:2009 | Volume:24 | Issue:1 (55)|Papers Count:14

The present study reviews the capabilities and skills of graduate and post graduate students of library and information science in Tehran Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University. Both groups demonstrate good and effective skills in internet search, query formulation, search techniques and information evaluation. They conduct appropriate web searches and utilize different search strategies. The present study had employed a survey tool whereby it determined that students more often use search engines rather than subject directories when searching the web.

With its diverse scope and breadth of information attractively presented, Internet has become the most updated and authoritative public information source. The fact that anyone could publish just about anything on this huge network without any supervision or revision serves as a small reminder on how to utilize and find credible information on the Net. Fortunately several different criteria and checklists have been devised for different age groups. For children and teenagers, it is no longer seems reasonable to confine them to books and other traditional information media. The present paper would initially deal with the importance of methods and tools available for website evaluation. It would then introduce s a tool for teaching website evaluation to children and teenagers. It would also further familiarize the librarians with the selection criteria for the websites most appropriate for this age group.

As an academic discipline, Tourism has a relatively short history in Iran. Academic institutions contribution to tourism is divided into two distinct area: Human resource development, and research ( as reflected by projects and dissertations). The importance of the research functions o the academic institutions gives incentive to researchers to study and analyze the content of dissertations on tourism. The principle aim of the present article is to review the research trends in Tourism in Iran. Content analysis was carried out on 155 dissertations produced between 1965 and 2006. Data for the research was collected by accessing Irandoc database. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive single variable and dual variable analysis was employed. Independent variables included gender, number of pages, field of study, type of academic institution and the date the dissertation was defended. Research trends in tourism were the dependant variable classified into 22 sub categories and 11 categories. Research findings demonstrate that most of the research trends in tourism in Iran are confined to four subjects: Tourist complexes, Development of Tourism, Economic impact of Tourism and Tourism Planning. Least and most researches on Tourism was carried out during the period of Holy Defense (2%) and 1997 onwards (67%) respectively.

Due to their growing need for up-to-date information resources, academic libraries are faced with the issue of acquisition, organization and accessibility of both printed and electronic resources. Thus it is important to investigate the advantages and downsides of acquisition of electronic resources, especially the issues involving electronic books. A survey was carried out using questionnaire and interview as data collection tools. 60 academic librarians working at six universities in metropolitan Tehran were chosen. The study demonstrated that from librarians’ standpoint, the multimedia capability is the most important factor in increasing user interest. Meanwhile, low shelve space requirement especially for multi-volume and reference works, ease of selection, and simultaneous lending are among the most important factors fostering librarian interest in Ebooks. Findings indicate that hardware and software issues, lack of public catalog on ebooks, low level of user familiarity, hackers and even eye-fatigue when reading are some of the problems associated with ebooks as perceived by the academic librarians.

As one of the potential ICT application areas within organizations, E-learning has come within the sights of organizations for its plethora of possibilities. The most significant feature is that by using leading edge ICT, e-learning helps organizations to chart the changes and create a kind of continued educatin within the corporate environment. The present study studies the challanges facing organizational elearning particularly with respect to its characteristics, application and its role within corporate strategies.

Portals are less than a decade old. They have come to cover are areas of electronic services, including electronic learning. With their efficient communication and information capabilities, these portals are capable of realizing novel learning concepts such as structuralism, active and cooperative learning. The present paper endeavors to discuss the latest understanding, theories and concepts regarding E-learning portals and to review the issues and steps that should be considered in designing such portals. Status of such portals in Iran and throughout the world would be discussed.

To develop a product there are two main approaches: Direct Engineering, or Reverse Engineering. In direct engineering, the aim is to manufacture a product that is felt needed, for which there are no prior design plan. All production processes must be started from scratch. In reverse engineering, however, the aim is to manufacture a new product using a product that has already been manufactured. The initial product is used as a template to save on investment and time. Since it eliminates many difficult, costly and time consuming production processes, reverse engineering has come to be acknowledged as an appropriate method for product manufacturing. Based on the teachings of allegorical thinking, using tried methods within a field of science to solve problems in other fields, is a common and reasonable approach leading to economy and increased productivity. In library and information science we are confronted with large body of issues that could be possibly solved in a novel and appropriate manner with the help of well-tried approaches such as reverse engineering. The present paper while introducing and outlining reverse engineering, would indicate some of the examples and applications in library and information science activities. Application of reverse engineering in information organization, reference services, computer software, databases and information seeking behavior.

The present paper is divided into four distinct, yet interrelated section. The first part deals with site selection for public libraries in Iran by librarians whose role are explained in the process of geographical distribution of public libraries, the next section would introduce the most important elements and component for site selection of public libraries as indicate in the American Architects Institute, and normalized and adapted to the characteristics of Iranian public libraries. It is followed by a definition of geographic information system (GIS), and a description of its components. Finally the paper offers the stages involved in public library site location using GIS.