Traditional vs. Distance LIS Education of in Iran: a comparative study
Z.
Abazari
Assistant Professor, Library
and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran.
author
L.
Nemati Anaraki
PhD Student, Library
and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Iran.
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- Because of the population explosion and increase in the number of applicants for higher education as well as the rapid expansion of ICTs, traditional education does not meet the demands of the applicants; as a result, distance education institutes came into existence. The present paper attempts to compare these two educational systems from different aspects in the field of library and information science.Design/methodology/approach- This research has been conducted in a survey-analytical manner and is of an applied nature. A class sample-taking method was used to collect the required data, and descriptive statistical and analytical methods in addition to SPSS statistical software were used to analyze the data collected.Findings- the findings of the research show that less than half of the students of Payam-e Noor University are satisfied with their educational methods while 69 per cent of the students of state-run universities are satisfied with the same. 54.5 percent of distance education students show dissatisfaction with the consultation and teaching methods of their professors, 49 percent show dissatisfaction with the performance of educational staff, 37.2 percent with unsuitable educational environment, and 35.9 percent with improper library services and educational sources and textbooks. At state-run universities of Tehran province, however, 59.3 percent of university students expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation and education methods of their professors, and 48.1 percent with the performance of educational staff. Fewer traditional education students stated dissatisfaction with welfare facilities in comparison to those of distance education system. The degree of satisfaction with professors’ teaching abilities was average in both educational systems.Conclusion- The results show that the degree of satisfaction of traditional education students with their educational methods was more than that of distance education students. Making more use of educational technologies and complementary educational materials as well as better facilities and equipment can be effective in increasing the degree of satisfaction felt by Payam-e Noor university students.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
6
21
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_181_f487506e9fe89e3876228e30656d980a.pdf
Assessment of Physical Security
and Safety Conditions
in Public and Academic Libraries: the Case of Zanjan Province
F.
Farrokhi
Assistant Professor,
Civil Engineering
Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
author
N.
Bayat Badaghi
PhD Student, Library
and Information Science
The University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- The goal of a library security system should be to provide a safe and secure facility for employees, resources, and patrons. At the same time, the system must perform these functions as seamlessly as possible, without interfering with the library's objective of easily and simply providing patron services. (McComb, 2004)Design/methodology/approach- The present study is a descriptive survey. The control checklist provided by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was used to evaluate the physical and electronic security of buildings and equipment in public libraries, academic libraries and information centers for the purpose of improving safety, and decreasing the unwanted consequences of library insecurity. The statistical universe for this study was the 14 public libraries, academic libraries and information centers in Zanjan province. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency were used to analyze the data.Findings- In general, there is no meaningful difference in keeping safety and security principles between the public library buildings of Zanjan province (the study includes assessment of management of materials, possessions, and building elements; doors, keys and locks; traffic and internal area monitoring; windows, safeguards, bars, and gates; external area lighting; fire alarms and security precautions; stock access; security gates).Conclusion- Even though based on table 3 (a comparison of the extent of observing safety and security principles in public and academic libraries) the existing security condition looks moderate, it leaves a lot to be desired. In addition, all security factors under study and improvement should match the standards.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
22
33
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_182_d296ced0c7926187171e7f364b92367a.pdf
Iran’s Research Institutes in Global Science: a Scientometrics Study
S.
Ebrahimi
PhD Student in Library and Information Science; Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- For the purpose of considering the quality as well as increasing the quantity of scientific work, the present study attempts to compare and evaluate the scientific productions of Iran’s research institutes in the ISI database using qualitative and quantitative criteria for three categories of research institutes (1) those under the authority of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, (2) those under the authority of the Ministry of Public Health, and (3) other research institutes. In addition the study will assess the meaningfulness of the differences of these categories based on the four indexes considered in the study.Design/methodology/approach- The study was conducted as a survey. The statistical universe being all research institutes in Iran which have had their scientific productions published in the ISI database from 1997 to 2006. Sampling was performed based on Garfield’s research (1993) in an evaluative and non-random method. The data was analyzed by means of the advanced search tools of the said database. The data was then analyzed in four categories (production, citation, citation impact, and cited document percentage) using descriptive and inferential statistics and with the SPSS13 software package.Findings- The findings of the study indicate that the research center for basic sciences is the superior research institute among the ones under the authority of the Ministry of Science, Research, & Technology based on three factors. Iran’s Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands is the superior research institute among the rest based on all four factors. Research institutes in Iran working on basic sciences as well as chemistry and chemical engineering are the superior ones among all research institutes of this country based on all four factors. Based on the qualitative and quantitative indexes considered in the study, the results revealed no meaningful difference between the research institutes under the authority of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology and other research institutes.Conclusion- This qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Iran’s research institutes based on all four factors, as well as the considerable degree of overlapping of the higher research institutes chosen, are indicative of the fact that both the quality and quantity of the scientific productions in research institutes have been considered together and at the same time. Such consideration is more visible in research institutes associated with interdisciplinary sciences including basic sciences research institutes, and those associated with the field of chemistry.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
34
52
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_183_ddb9ca1f32da451f8e3c8941ebbb0180.pdf
Impact of Academic Life on Information Literacy of LIS Undergraduate Students
M.
Siamak
Faculty Member of ISC
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- The present survey attempts to evaluate the literacy level of undergraduate students of library and information science and the influence of academic educational programs on their literacy level.Design/methodology/approach- The study was conducted as a longitudinal survey. Participants encompasses 20 first year and 20 undergraduate students of library and information science at Zabol University in the academic year 2007-2008. Survey data were collected through standard questionnaires designed according to Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (ACRL) by Davarpanah and Siamak.Findings-The results indicate that the literacy level of the first year and undergraduate students was below average. The level of basic and factual information literacy competency also differed for the first year and undergraduate students with the undergraduates having a higher level.Conclusion- Academic educational programs of the university, whether formal or informal, directly influence the literacy level of students. Considering the results of the present and past surveys, it was established that formal or informal academic educational programs of university improves the information literacy level of students by three grades per year.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
54
71
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_184_c7848e931f161b7261510e40dfda85ef.pdf
Iranians Scientific Productivity on an International Scale (1998-2007)
Sh.
Niakan
M.A., Library and Information Science
Faculty Member, University of Applied Science and Technology
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose: This paper attempts to evaluate the condition of Iran’s scientific productivity in international journals during the past ten years (1998-2010), and consequently assess the Iran’s international contribution to knowledge in this decade.Methodology/approach- automatic statistical analysis on the results of information searches of countries and publication years (1998-2010) in the ISI database and the thesauri of the website of the Iranian Research Institute for Scientific Information and Documentation according to the categorization of higher education groups in Iran.Findings: China, South Korea, India, and Turkey enjoy rapid development in the field of science while Iran, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt are developing gradually yet increasingly. Most of the scientific productions were written in English, published documents were papers and conference summaries. Iranian scholars have collaborated mostly with American, Canadian, and British German, Australian, and French scholars. Among universities and educational institutions, Tehran University contributed the most amount of collaboration. The Applied Mathematics and Computation Journal has published the largest amount of scientific records of Iranian scholars. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has had the most amount of influence in Iran’s scientific productivit. Most of the scientific productivity budget has been used in international research in the field of basic sciences, medicine, and technical and engineering areas. Agriculture, veterinary, human sciences, and arts fields come next with a huge amount of difference in consuming Iran’s international research budget. The most amount of scientific productivity in basic sciences was in the various majors in the field of chemistry pharmacology and pharmacy in the field of medicine chemical engineering in the technical and engineering field, and food industries in agriculture and veterinary field while the least amount was in agricultural economics and natural resources. Some majors in the field of psychology and photography had the most amount of scientific productivity in human sciences and art respectively. Medical library science occupies the 46th rank in the total of 53 fields of medical sciences, and library and information science with 37 papers occupies the 11th rank in the total 52 fields of human sciences.Conclusion: Iran should thrive more for fast scientific development. Regarding the fact that most Iranian documents published in international journals were papers and conference summaries, more effort is required to publish other types of documents in such journals. The least amount of international scientific research has been conducted in agriculture, veterinary, human sciences, and arts fields in addition to medical library science which is indicative of the fact that more effort is required in this regard. The collaboration of the librarians in international research in library science would definitely highlight the value of this field in the medical sciences. By and large, Iranian librarian scholars should increase their amount of collaboration in international research projects. More effort in producing credible papers to be published in internationally accredited journals would enrich the scientific researches of this field with more credibility and value.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
72
86
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_185_6d7f207332d1d2e7e4abd5c96aa2cd29.pdf
Digital Preservation in Digital Libraries: Review of Strategies
M.
Samiei
PhD Student, Library
and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran,
Iran
author
S.
Rezaei Sharifabadi
Associate Professor, Library
and Information Science
Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- The purpose of this study is the identification of existing digital preservation strategies in order to guide organizational activities used to guarantee long-term access to digital materials.Design/methodology/approach- This study was done based on a library review and an examination of literature associated with digital preservation. Digital preservation strategies were examined, and the key factors instrumental in planning the said strategies for long-term preservation in national libraries have been given here.Findings- Different strategies are applied to different digital materials. In complex and functional software such as computer games, technology preservation and emulation are appropriate. On the other hand, in simple resources as well as cases in which there is sufficient knowledge regarding the format, transfer and packaging strategies seem suitable. When digital resources relocate, persistent locators are beneficial. Reliance on standards reduces the complexity and cost of maintaining long-term preservation strategies. Also, the development of digital archeology is suited to save information from outdated and broken media.Conclusion- For a successful Digital Preservation, a mixture of different approaches that includes transfer, packaging persistent locators and reliance on standards must be considered. This means that one approach might include some aspects of other approaches.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
88
102
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_186_2051e9b62b69fc7d4e5ddc6f98bdcb89.pdf
Icons and Symbols in Designing User Interface: Strategies for Effectiveness
F.
Doroudi
PhD, Library and Information Science
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose-The present article attempts to evaluate the effect and function of visual symbols and icons in optimizing the functionality of graphical user interfaces for appropriate and efficient use.Design/methodology/approach-The survey was conducted through the study of related information resources, as well as comparison and qualitative analysis of the role of visualization processes in the use of graphical user interfaces.Findings- The findings of the study revealed that some of the influential factors in visualization– layout and style, texture, color, font and writing method, icon, symbol, design, and balance—play an important role in improving the graphical user interface usage. Furthermore, the interaction of various elements such as form, font, layout, background, direction, dimension, movement, embossing, solidity and animation of symbols lead to an improved user interface quality.Conclusion- Using a visual approach in the user interface produces better results at various levels of information acquisition. Due to its unique approach to icon usage, conducting this study required considerable comparison of influential factors, and special analysis of elements which have been given little attention in papers about visualization. This study may help user interface designers and information experts to ameliorate visualization processes for the purpose of improving user interface quality.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
104
125
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_187_5f0863069a216a1b7831a2ce2d185d64.pdf
Ranking of Universities based on Knowledge Management Criteria and Webometrics Ranking
E.
Niazi
M.A., Business Management
Knowledge Management Division of Management and Human Resources of International Institute for Energy Studies (IIES
author
E.
Abounouri
Professor, Econometrics
& Social Statistics,
Department of Economics,
University of Mazandaran,
Babolsar, Iran.
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose: The present study attempts to evaluate the relationship of university ranking based on knowledge management criteria and a webometric scale.Design/methodology/approach- Questionnaires were used in this descriptive, spatially restricted, and applied survey, which were distributed among 355 faculty members of Tehran, Isfahan, Tarbiat Modares, Alzahra, Mazandaran, Gilan, Yazd, Arak, and Razi Universities upon being assessed for correctness and stability. The data collected was then analyzed using SPSS16 software.Findings: The following can be mentioned as advantages of the presence of universities and research centers in the web environment: participating in the global academic market and attracting new markets for their research-driven and scientific products and services; holding virtual educational courses with the presence of students from all around the globe, promoting participation in international competitions; attaining better global visibility, fulfilling the traditional university tasks—education and research—using digital facilities, producing more scientific products with a lesser cost, etc. Webometrics is a common method in ranking the presence of universities in the web. In this method, the status of a university is pinpointed in comparison with that of other universities using specific criteria.Conclusion: Webometrics university ranking differed from ranking performed through knowledge management criteria.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
126
138
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_188_7a85301c1bafd7ef324f3533db3afe95.pdf
Visibility, Web Impact Factor, and Collaboration among LIS Schools in US
F.
Danesh
PhD Student, Library
and Information Science
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,
Mashhad, Iran
author
F.
Soheili
PhD Student, Library
and Information Science
Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
author
F.
Mesrinejad
Graduate student of Library
and Information Science;
University of Isfahan, Iran
author
A.
Esfandiari Moghadam
Assistant Professor, Library
and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- Websites of Library and Information Science (LIS) schools verified by ASA are openings to the virtual world in which invaluable information about faculty members, students, and experts of library and information science is presented. With regard to the significance of the websites of such schools, the present study attempts to evaluate their visibility, Web Impact Factor, and collaboration rate.Design/methodology/approach- The method used in this study is link analysis, a webometrics method. In this process, the in-links, self-links, and co-links of the websites under study were computed and then their Web Impact Factor was calculated. Afterwards, cluster analysis and multi-variate scaling were applied to evaluate the collaboration rate of the websites. The statistical universe of the study includes 29 websites, and the Yahoo search engine was used to analyze the links.Findings- The results indicated that the Michigan University website (with 141,000 in-links), Florida State University website (116,000), and Drexel University website (71,600) were the most visited websites. The Dominican University website (86), University of Missouri-Columbia website (73.4) and University of North Carolina Central website (26.9) were also shown to have the highest Revised Web Impact Factor. Co-link analysis results revealed that the websites under study had collaborated in six clusters from the standpoint of both cluster analysis and multivariate scaling.Conclusion: Website managers and designers need to improve their websites with regard to the results of studies like this one. The success of a website relies on factors such as content, size, language, and history. Therefore, studies conducted on this subject need to consider all of these factors together.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
140
153
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_189_4dfabf25c2b8c0fd3c8345f454246ae2.pdf
Common Approaches in Assigning Library Science to Other Subject Areas by English Language Databases
M.
Zarei
M.A., Medical Library and Information Science
Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
author
N.
Eshtehar
M.A., Library and Information Science
Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- The present survey attempts to study the subject overlap and interrelationship between library and information science and other subject fields. In the public’s view, the field of library and information science is believed to be a sub-discipline of the humanistic and social sciences. This conforms to the fact that in many databases, there is no choice but to choose the subject subcategory of humanistic or social sciences in order to obtain information regarding this field. Yet the way internationally accredited databases, which are among the most important operators in organizing and marketing scientific texts, subcategorize science into various branches and subbranches is different. This survey tries to establish the incorrectness of merely linking library and information science with humanistic sciences, to the extent that this is possible by means of an analysis of the subdivision of sciences in different databases.Design/methodology/approach- In the first place, categorization of science into various branches and subbranches by Willey, Scopos, Springer, and Science direct databases has been examined. These databases were chosen because of the relative generality of the subjects covered there, i.e. since the subjects are not specialized. Then the position of library and information science in this information set was pinpointed through specialized search.Findings- According to the results obtained from the databases under study, physics and computer sciences make the most amount of contribution in encompassing articles written on library and information science. Humanistic and the subbranches of social sciences come next. A small amount of the texts were also extracted from medical sciences.Conclusion- The results indicate that library and information science is neither a subdiscipline of humanistic sciences nor merely an area of interdisciplinary overlap, but of independent nature. Based on this study, it can be derived that library and information science is mostly interrelated with computer sciences in the first place and social sciences in the second.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
154
168
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_190_ec065c16015a5471f29a4275c5d2b2f5.pdf
Co-operative Cataloguing in the Internet Environment: the Case of Agricultural Libraries in Iran
F.
Babalhavaeji
Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
author
N.
Khaledi
M.A. student, Library
and Information Science
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- This study has been conducted to evaluate the existing conditions of the organization of the agricultural data co-operative and the use of its catalogue by librarians of educational institutions and centers under the authority of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization in an internet environment.Design/methodology/approach- The study has been conducted using a descriptive survey. The data was collected by means of questionnaires and the results presented using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) in the form of tables and diagrams. The statistical universe of the study includes the 55 libraries which have been using the Simorgh web software for an average of four years each.Findings: The agricultural data cooperative is organized by cataloguing/classification (100%) and indexing (21.6%). For the sake of harmony in this electronic index, 100% of agencies use LC classification, observing international standards as well as 83.8% bibliography, and in 83.8% machine indexing, 35.1% mixed language has been used. Organizing a data cooperative resulted in saving more time for an amount of 43.2% cost and speed rate for a shared amount of 51.1%, and harmony in using software of the libraries under research for 100%.Conclusion: Full-time access of the catalogue is to a large extent possible. Ease and speed as well as the accuracy of the catalogue have been evaluated as “very high” and from “high to very high” respectively. As a result, the majority of the librarians have been able to present their information in the catalogue because of the advantages of using cooperative arrangements.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
170
186
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_191_dbf7177d319f3c04e037655153c396e0.pdf
Criteria for Evaluating Iranian Library and Information Science Weblogs
M.
Pakdaman Naini
M.A., Library and
Information Science
The International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Eeismology
author
M.
Bagheri
Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science
Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
author
A.
Ghaebi
Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science
Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
author
text
article
2011
per
Purpose- Weblogs are among the noteworthy new forms of information provision on the web. According to the studies conducted up to now (June 16, 2010), 222 Iranian up-to-date library and information weblogs have been registered, with librarians studying them constantly to obtain the most recent information on library and information science. The purpose of the present study is to provide a checklist of evaluation criteria of library and information weblogs.Design/methodology/approach- Having reviewed the study literature, and considered the unanimous opinion of research experts, the authors considered 23 criteria for the evaluation of Iranian libraries and information weblogs. Then Cronbach’s Alpha 0.76 coefficient of checklist question correlation was extracted, and the reliability of the criteria checklist proposed by this study was established. The criteria gathered from specialized texts and study literature was also analyzed by seven experts who have introduced new theories regarding library and information weblogs, resulting in the validation of the checklist. Afterwards, the importance coefficient for each criterion was extracted after consideration of different expert opinions on the coefficient.Findings- The most important finding of the present study is the 23 criteria checklist for Iranian library and information weblogs in which the degree of importance of each criterion has been specified.Conclusion: The criterion “Weblog updating” with an importance degree of 5 has the highest coefficient, while the criteria “Questionnaire citation” and “Web Impact Factor” have a shared degree of importance (3.1) and so have the lowest coefficient for the evaluation of Iranian library and information weblogs.
Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran
2783-4646
21
v.
4
no.
2011
188
202
https://nastinfo.nlai.ir/article_192_3b8e25041bcd30c72fb5e7b193c2d2a5.pdf