RESEARCH ON INFORMATION SCIENCE AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES (PAYAM-E-KETABKHANEH (LIBRARY MESSAGE))
Year:2015 | Volume:20 | Issue:4 (79)|Papers Count:12

Purpose: This study aims to investigate factors that affect resistance to change in the public libraries of West Azerbaijan. Methodology: In this research the analytical survey method was applied. By applying simple random sampling, 105 employees were selected out of 140. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and data analysis was conducted by using statistical methods such as Mean, Standard Deviation and Pearson correlation. Findings: In this study "lack of knowledge about the reason for change", "anxiety related to the result of the change", "anxiety related to the loss of organizational identity", "fear of the loss of job security", and "an expectation of failure following change and a subsequent return to the previous situation", were appointed as factors that influence resistance to change. Findings indicate that the above 6 factors have a significant correlation to resistance to change amongst employees. Based on the findings" an expectation of failure following change and a subsequent return to the previous situation" was identified as the most important factor. Originality/Value: As organizational change is one of the most dynamic components of organizations and an inevitable aspect of keeping pace with external change powers, resistance to change is also inevitable. Identifying the factors affecting resistance to change can help in reducing the waste of resistance and improving the success of the plan for change. Investigation of this phenomenon in the field of public libraries in Iran has done first time in this article.

Purpose: In this research, we want to study staff social participation, and its related factors, amongst librarians of Tabriz public libraries. Methodology: This is a survey. The research population includes all 155 librarians from Tabriz public libraries. Data was collected using a researcher- made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire is confirmed by experts, and its reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software package. Findings: Results show that the level of social participation amongst the staff of Tabriz public libraries is at a medium level. Findings also show an inverse correlation between social participation and the two variables of "interpersonal trust" and "social alienation", but a direct correlation between social participation and "reward motives". There is no statistical correlation between "institutional trust" and "the socio-economic status of the librarians" . There is a significant correlation between social participation and the basic variables such as gender so that the social participation of male librarians is more prevalent than that of female librarians. All in all, a combination of individual and social elements is involved in the construction of the theoretical model, based on behavior and participation theories. Based on these findings, the significance of social participation is strongly recognized by the research community. The clarification coefficient in regression equation is on a low level, so it seems that we need some other illustrative variables to explain the levels of social participation. We should also take the analysis level further than micro, and macro levels, and consider effective macro variables related to social participation from outside library organizations. Originality/value: By paying attention to the importance of social participation in the cultural, social and economic development of a society, library staff due to their high levels of communication with large groups of students, teachers, scholars and the general public, can play a key role in this regard. This study is the first of this kind of research.

Purpose: This study attempts to identify work alienation, and the effect of organizational culture on this, using a sociological approach. Methodology: The method used for this study is a survey and data collected by questionnaire. The population of this study is all librarians from public libraries in the Khuzestan province. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS16. To test the hypotheses, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: The results showed that job satisfaction, job security and organizational justice (as independent variables), together with the work alienation of labor (the dependent variable), have a meaningful relationship. Multivariate regression analysis results also indicate that independent variables are predicted as totaling 0.46 of the variance of the work alienation. Originality/Value: Sociological approach to public librarians problems, have been got very less attention. This research is among the initiatory papers that proceeded in the Khuzestan province.

Purpose: The present paper aims to compare the current status of Hamadan province public libraries with the Iranian Public Libraries Foundation's Outlook in 1404. Methodology: This study has been carried out using a comparative method. A checklist was used to collect data based on statistics from the top countries, where the indicators of 'resources', 'space', 'membership', 'library material circulation' and 'staff' are concerned. Following this, the data were compared with the latest statistics relating to Hamadan province public libraries. Findings: The results showed that in terms of indicators of resources, space, membership, library material circulation and staff, Hamadan public libraries have a long way to go before they can achieve to the Iran public libraries Foundations Outlook. In order to achieve this honor, 5176927 books, 73 libraries, 429,764 members, 7,743,877 circulated library materials and 636 employees need to be added to Hamadan province public libraries. Originality/Value: A comparison between the public libraries of Hamadan province and the Iran public libraries Foundation's Outlook can provide a clear picture of the current status of these libraries. Therefore, the results of this study can be useful for managers, planners and policy makers of Iran public libraries foundations.

Purpose: The present paper tries to study and evaluate the status of Khuzestan public libraries in relation to the existence of a special section for blind and semi-blind users, and the compatibility of the existing situation with standards for resources, facilities, and labor force. It also aims to examine the expectations of staff. Methodology: The present study is a descriptive survey. The research population consists of three libraries: Saamen al Aemmeh, (Abadan), Shaheed Sharif (Khorramshahr), and Central Library (Ahwaz). Data have been gathered via observations by researchers, via interviews with authorities in Behzisti office in Khuzestan province, and through the employment of a collection of relevant standards. The standards being employed are: The National Standards of Library Services for the Blind (Taavoni, 1379), and the Regulation on How to Develop the Blind users’ Section of Public Libraries (General Office of Public Library Services, Iran Public Libraries Foundation, 1389). The first standard introduces the services required for blind and semi-blind users in libraries, and the second standard is a guideline to develop and expand a special section for these people in public libraries, with an emphasis on Iran Public Libraries Foundation’s policy. Findings: Results demonstrate that environment currently available in the special section for the blind and semi-blind in the libraries studied is not suitable, and that these libraries are incompatible with some of the standards. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, no research work has been carried out to compare the special section for the blind and semi-blind users in Khuzestan public libraries with regard to standards and guidelines.

Purpose: The Purpose of this paper is to determine the criteria and required specifications for MARC formats according to new information and communication technologies, with an emphasis on special features of the Iran MARC. Methodology: A review of the literature, the reading of the latest version of UNIMARC and MARC21 and their related documents, and the results of Iranian experts' views helped to develop a list of 22 criteria. This list was delivered to the Iranian MARC experts for the purpose of choosing the most important criterion, and adding some more. Findings: A list of 22 criteria was prepared for the Iran MARC evaluation. Findings showed that “attention to the needs and progress of the world” and “consideration of International cataloging rules” are the most important criteria. Originality/value: The originality of the paper lies in the proper list of criteria and required specifications for MARC formats, with emphasis on special features of Iran MARC.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the Impact of Concept-based Image Indexing on Image Retrieval via Google. Due to the importance of images, this article focuses on the features taken into account by Google in retrieving the images. Methodology: The present study is a type of applied research, and the research method used in it comes from quasi-experimental and technology-based methods. Findings: 900 images with concept-based characteristics were uploaded on iiproject.ir domain. Google retrieved 417 images of 900 ones that are used in this study. In 4 codes of “image title”, “Alt text”, “property”, and images with “Q code”, no images were retrieved, so the analysis is done on the rest of 5 codes, “image caption in English”, “image caption in Farsi”, “file name”, “Controlled language” and “free language”. Paying attention to these components in uploading images on websites causes Google retrieve more images. The Chi-square test for difference of retrieved images in 5 Cods is significant, and revealed that, in different codes, significantly various numbers of images were retrieved. Caption allocation in English has the best effect on retrieving images in the study sample, while the assignation of the file name is less effective in image retrieval ranking. The Kruskal-Wallis test to assess the group differences in 5 codes is significant. It means the average of group differences across 5 codes is significant. Originality/Value: This paper tries to introduce the main elements that a search engine such as Google may consider in the indexing and retrieval of images.

Purpose: the present paper compares two reference books the Encyclopedia World of Islam & Encyclopedia of Islam– Leiden with regard to the whole process of compiling the encyclopedia, and to conduct an evaluative content analysis . Methodology: This is a comparative survey and a study of content analysis. The data collection tool in the comparative survey section is a questionnaire, and in the content analysis section it is the note taking method together with the Daricheh software package. The statistical population of this study consists of are ‏115 faculty members of the Islamic Encyclopedia Foundation together with all of the entries from these two reference books. The gathered data has been analyzed using SPSS software. Findings: The highest number of entries in both resources is related to geographical, historical, and language & literature topics. According to the T-test used in evaluating indexes/indicators of the procedures of compiling encyclopedias, in most cases indexes/indicators appear to be in an acceptable status/range i.e. all of the indexes/indicators in both resources have been addressed properly, but for the "author" index/indicator a middle or even very low status is observed in the Encyclopedia world of Islam. The status for the two indexes/indicators of "citation" and "edition" in the Encyclopedia world of Islam is higher than that in the Encyclopedia of Islam. Furthermore, the status of other indexes/ indicators including "entry", "author", "publication" and "compilation and translation" in the Encyclopedia of Islam is higher than in the Encyclopedia world of Islam. Originality/value: A aspects of the compilation process within encyclopedias from the same field are rarely evaluated and compared. The result is that some of the differences and similarities are undefined for the readers. The results of the present study could clarify some of the aspects for their readers and relevant organizations.

Purpose: The aim of the present paper is to examine the status of information literacy skills amongst public librarians in Fars province in terms of the information literacy standards. Methodology: This is an applied research with an analytical method. The Information Literacy Assessment (DAS) questionnaire was selected as the research tool. The questionnaire includes 55 questions and five standards designed to measure the information literacy skills of public librarians. The Pearson correlation test and t-test were used for data analysis. Findings: The results showed that the level of information literacy skills amongst public librarians is at an average level. The age and work experience of librarians seems to influence on their level of information literacy. There was a significant difference between librarians with library qualifications and librarians with other qualifications. It is also evident from the findings that the degree of education influences their level of information literacy amongst librarians. According to the findings, the public librarians have a low level of familiarity with the English language. Originality/Value: Public libraries play the role of a public university and have a significant role in the development of information literacy, both amongst members of the public and the broader community. An assessment of the status of information literacy amongst librarians, and planning for the development of such skills, will help libraries to achieve their goals.