Content Analysis of Virtual Reference Questions in the National Library of Iran

Document Type : Research ŮŽ Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Library and Information Science; Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch

2 M.A. in Library and Information Science; National Library and Archives of I.R. Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This research aimed to study and analyze the content of virtual reference questions at the National Library of Iran.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research population included all the questions sent to the virtual reference section of the National Library of Iran during a one-month period (258 questions in 178 webforms).
Findings: 54.55 percent of the users of the virtual reference service of the National Library were men. The highest percentage of the questions was sent by undergraduate students (46.02 percent). The education of 55.68 percent of the users was in humanities (highest percentage) and 1.70 percent studied basic and medical sciences (lowest percentage). Among different types of questions, research questions were most frequent (32.28 percent) and guidance questions were the least frequent (20.08 percent). According to the findings of this research, generalities and philosophy were respectively the highest and lowest subject fields for questions. The highest percentage of research questions were asked by users studying in the humanities (36.73 percent); engineering students asked most of the searching questions (36.36 percent); and the largest portion (33.33 percent) of guidance questions were asked by users with a medical science background.
Conclusion: Since most of the users use the virtual reference service of the National Library of Iran for putting research questions, there need to be expert librarians who have the necessary information literacy skills to provide optimal responses.

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Librarianship and Information Organization Studies
Volume 23, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
91
December 2012
Pages 84-97

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 October 2011
  • Revise Date: 14 April 2015
  • Accept Date: 04 December 2011

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