INFORMATION SYSTEMS & SERVICES
Year:2012 | Volume:1 | Issue:3 (3)|Papers Count:9

Purpose: The present research aims at evaluating user's satisfaction of interface of virtual reference service of National Library and Archives of I.R of Iran (NLAI). To do this, the demographic information, computer technologies used by users and the extent to which users of virtual reference were satisfied with the user interface were assessed.Methodology: The methodology used is survey. So, the extent to which users of virtual reference were satisfied with the interface was measured through an electronic questionnaire. The population study was 1825 users of virtual reference desk during a year of which 317 were selected via systematic random sampling based on Morgan's table. Findings: Most of the users were women (52.05%). Most of them had academic education and 51% graduated in Humanities fields. Most of them (66.80%) used Windows XP, 65.22% used Internet Explorer and 45.74% used Yahoo e-mail service. Users were greatly satisfied with the user interface of virtual reference services. Users tended to use the virtual reference services via E-mail (50.20%) and Chat (38.34%), respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, although users were satisfied with user interface of virtual reference service, it is necessary to review and redesign it according to user’s views and various computer technologies.

Purpose: Information marketing involves the processes and interactions that lead to the satisfaction of users and revenue for libraries and information centers. This paper aims to address the issue of information and its role in economic activities and issues related to marketing. Also, it focuses on information services pricing as one of the dimensions of marketing programs, and studies and analyses different approaches and perspectives.Methodology: This paper uses Library approach for reviewing the research done in the field of information marketing and information services pricing.Findings: The factors affecting pricing information resources and services include: environmental and external factors, recognition of the objectives (including the financial and organizational goals of information centers), recognition of the market and the use of customer feedbacks and comments, other components of mixed marketing mixed including kinds of goods or services, distribution and promotion channels, the expected services as cost supplier, and being profitable or subsidized services. The main identified approaches in information services pricing are: pricing based on costs, pricing based on market structure and competition, pricing based on customer demand, integrated approach, entrepreneurial approach, and pricing based on the value.Conclusion: Continuity of supplying information resources and services depends on considering the financial, economic, and profit aspects. In supplying information services and resources, several factors have essential roles: first of all, is studying for design and analysis of financial and economic aspects of developing and handling these centers. Through information about pricing, the basic methods of cost estimating and techniques and strategies of information services and resources pricing to provide efficient services can be identifiable. Librarians and information services staff should note that the acquisition, organization and dissemination of information should be based on the new concept of marketing for meeting users' satisfaction. A principled and coherent marketing plan enables libraries in the competition current world today to identify targets and actions in line with the clients' expected services.

Purpose: The current study attempts to investigate the skill of post-graduate students at Payam-e Noor University of Shiraz (PNUS) in searching, storing, and retrieving needed e-resources.Methodology: The method used is descriptive. The study population was all the students in post-graduate level of PNUS in academic year 2011-2012 who were 1500 persons in number. By Cochran's formula, 106 individuals were chosen as sample size. For data collection, a questionnaire was used.Findings: Regarding the searching, the students had low skill than average and had average skill in the domain of retrieval. Among the barriers of accessing the e-resources from the view of the students, hardware barriers and the lack of familiarity of the students with searching methods in databases were indicated.Conclusion: It is recommended that in addition to holding educational workshops regarding searching, storing, and retrieving, the required infrastructures including computer stations or terminals and rapid internet are provided.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess knowledge retention in the Institute for International Energy Studies (IIES). Methodology: It is a survey research carried out with a qualitative approach. To gather desirable data, a questionnaire on knowledge retention and two interviews were used. Research population is composed of the experts and researchers (60 persons in number) who work in IIES. In order to assess knowledge retention, eight factors including face to face communication, intellectual sharing process, documenting, job turnaround system, knowledge sharing awarding and competitive system, self – organizing capability, generating new knowledge, and training and supporting system were taken into consideration.Findings: The findings indicate that knowledge retention in IIES is in a medium status. Among the weaknesses, one can refer to the undesired documenting trend in solving the problems and bottlenecks in performing the assigned tasks and projects, the lack of an integrated well-established supportive system throughout the Institute and between its research centers in order to encourage and support team working, lack of knowledge management software in the Institute, the low rate of knowledge sharing among researchers and scholars among research institutes. Conclusion: The situation of the Institute in terms of knowledge retention is between levels 2 and 3. However, the Institute has the potential to achieve higher than level 3, if the relevant software is used and an effective system is established between research institutes and integrating human resource (HR) in terms of specialty and using the researchers of other centers in relevant projects.

Purpose This research aims to investigate the ergonomic conditions in librarians of University of Isfahan's libraries and its relationship with demographic factors so that the maximum efficiency can be achieved.Methodology: The research method is a descriptive applied survey. The population consists of all librarians of university of Isfahan (61 persons) in 2010. For gathering the needed data, a checklist of standards and principles of ergonomics was used. Findings: The results showed that the librarians are not in good ergonomic conditions. There is also a relationship between ergonomic conditions and gender, years of work (experience), and position, and there is no relationship between ergonomic conditions and degree, field of study, and age.Conclusion: It is proposed that managers and specially librarians should observe the ergonomic principles in libraries since university libraries are the information centers which have a great role in the development and growth of societies.

Purpose: The present study aims to identify the factors affecting the strength of relationship perceived in implementing the relationship marketing by Central Library of Shahid Chamran University.Methodology: It is a descriptive-correlational survey. The data collection instrument is a structured questionnaire based on the Moghimi's research (2011). The research population includes 220 students of Shahid Chamran University. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and LISREL softwares.Findings: Findings indicate a positive and significant effect of the key relationship dimensions and the relation's features on the strength of relationship perceived by the library's clients. Moreover, no significant relationship was found between the personal characteristics of clients and the strength of relationship perceived by them.Conclusion: If the managers and librarians of the library can make a kind of trust and mutual relationship and also a continuous relationship with clients, they will be able to improve as well as extend the established relationship.

Purpose: The aim of this research is to do a comparative study of recall and precision in fuzzy and non-fuzzy search tools. The existing capacities of fuzzy systems are also examined.  Methodology: The method used is semi-experimental by which static three fuzzy search tools (Google, AltaVista, and Ask) and three non- fuzzy search tools (Yahoo, Mamma, and MetaCrawler) were studied. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistical methods using Microsoft Excel were applied. Findings: It was found that the most successful in retrieving target documents are fuzzy ones (Google, AltaVista, and Ask) among them Google has retrieved the most relevant documents. Also, among non-fuzzy search tools, Yahoo and Mamma had a better and weaker performance, respectively.Conclusion: Totally, fuzzy systems have had a better performance in both precision and recall compared to non-fuzzy systems. The results of this study can be of value and interest for database designers.

Purpose: This research studies traditional overlap, relative overlap and synthetic freedom in the databases PubMed and Web of Science (WoS) in 'Endocrine System Diseases' area.Methodology: Research population of this descriptive survey consists of all retrieved articles on endocrine glands in PubMed and WoS in 2009. The search was done using 11 major descriptors from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Data analysis was performed using Endnote and Excel. Different overlaps including (subject, title, and information resources) and traditional and relative overlaps for each descriptor were calculated. Findings: Among 7389 articles retrieved in both databases, 4177 and 3212 titles belonged to PubMed and WoS, respectively, 2586 ones were in both databases, 1591 articles were unique to the PubMed database and 626 titles were unique in WoS. It was also found that traditional overlap between the two databases is 53.84%, and relative overlap percentage of PubMed, 80.51, is more than WoS with 61.91%.Conclusions: The findings showed that there is a high overlap between the two databases. Accordingly, considering the current limitations and since the PubMed is free of charge, it can be a suitable substitute for WoS database. This avoids the increased subscription fee, and helps libraries subscribe other databases which can be as supplement of PubMed.