Aziz Hedayati Khoshemehr; maryam samadi; Rahim Shahbazi; Abolfazl Ghasemzadeh
Abstract
1. IntroductionLibrarians in public libraries who possess low levels of information literacy may inadvertently provide incomplete or inaccurate information to users, resulting in errors and wasted time—consequences that can lead to broader organizational challenges. Investigating the relationship ...
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1. IntroductionLibrarians in public libraries who possess low levels of information literacy may inadvertently provide incomplete or inaccurate information to users, resulting in errors and wasted time—consequences that can lead to broader organizational challenges. Investigating the relationship between information literacy and factors such as professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital enables the identification of existing deficiencies and facilitates long-term strategic planning to address them. Despite the significance of these interconnected variables, previous studies have not examined them collectively, nor have they assessed the specific role of public libraries within this context. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics in public libraries remains lacking.The present study seeks to evaluate the extent to which librarians in the selected public libraries demonstrate information literacy and engage with professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital. The overarching aim is to explore the occupational implications of information literacy for librarians working in public libraries and to examine its influence on the aforementioned dimensions.Research Question(s)What is the relationship between information literacy and professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital in public libraries of East Azerbaijan Province?2. Literature ReviewMoradi and Bahraminia (2019), in their study titled "The Impact of Librarians' Information Literacy on the Organizational Growth of Public Libraries", found that information literacy —specifically the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively—was present at a relatively acceptable level among librarians in Kermanshah’s public libraries.Hossein Tabar and Berimani (2019), in "The Relationship between Information Literacy and Social Capital with Students' Academic Satisfaction", reported a significant positive correlation between students' information literacy and social capital and their academic satisfaction. Moreover, each dimension contributed differently to predicting satisfaction outcomes.Gharibzadeh, Moeinikia, and Maqbal Sarband (2019), in their research titled "Investigating the Influence of Teachers' Ethical Decision-Making on Managers' Professional Ethics Based on the Mediating Role of Information Literacy", concluded that there is a direct, positive, and statistically significant association between teachers' information literacy and their professional ethical standards in Urmia District 2.Wojciechowska (2020), in the international study "Social Capital, Trust, and Social Activity among Librarians: Results from 20 Countries", reported that while librarians demonstrated moderate levels of individual social capital, their trust in others was relatively high.Kshirsagar (2018), in "Study of Professional Ethics of Librarians of Faculties Affiliated to Saint George Baba University of Amravati", found that over 95% of librarians were aware of ethical norms and practices in librarianship.Hemmati (2017), in "The Relationship between Information Literacy and Knowledge Management among Students and Faculty Members of Shiraz University", demonstrated a significant link between information literacy and the four core components of knowledge management: creation, storage, sharing, and application.A review of existing databases and monographs reveals that the combined exploration of all four variables—information literacy, professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital—has not been previously conducted. Most prior studies have examined these dimensions in isolation or in pairs.3. MethodologyThis study employs a descriptive-correlational design, with data collection structured around structural equation modeling (SEM). In the proposed analytical framework, information literacy serves as the exogenous variable, while professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital function as endogenous variables.The statistical population comprises all librarians employed in public libraries across East Azerbaijan Province—370 individuals as of 2018. Data were collected using a questionnaire containing 67 items rated on a five-point Likert scale (ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree"). A simple random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 250 participants, determined based on Morgan’s sample size table. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.4. ResultsThe structural model analysis revealed a chi-square value of 13.548, indicating the linearity of relationships among the latent constructs. This value, obtained at a significance level of p < 0.01, suggests that the empirical data align well with the hypothesized model.According to model fit indices, the degrees of freedom (DF) are 2.20, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) is 0.90, the Goodness-of-Fit Index (GFI) is 0.87, the Incremental Fit Index (IFI) is 0.90, the Non-Normed Fit Index (NNFI) is 0.89, and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) is 0.08. Collectively, these metrics indicate a satisfactory level of model fitness.Analysis of the structural paths shows that information literacy has its strongest effect on social capital, with a standardized path coefficient of β = 0.56 and t = 6.40. The next strongest relationship is between information literacy and knowledge sharing (β = 0.67, t = 6.07).Furthermore:- The relationship between employees’ information literacy and professional ethics is statistically significant, with β = 0.54 and t = 5.75 (p < 0.01).- The relationship between information literacy and knowledge sharing is confirmed with β = 0.67 and t = 6.07 (p < 0.01).- The impact of information literacy on social capital is affirmed with β = 0.56 and t = 6.40 (p < 0.01).These findings demonstrate that higher levels of information literacy among librarians correlate positively with their professional ethics, knowledge-sharing behavior, and social capital.5. ConclusionImproving information literacy levels among librarians significantly enhances their professional ethics, knowledge sharing, and social capital within public libraries. As such, library administrators should prioritize the development of information literacy competencies to foster ethical behavior, collaborative culture, and social cohesion among staff.Information-literate librarians possess the intellectual framework necessary to locate, evaluate, and utilize information effectively. They play a critical role in the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge. Moreover, they exhibit strong moral responsibility and professional integrity, fostering mutual trust, active social interaction, and a shared sense of collective identity within their institutions
Abolfazl Ghasemzadeh; Mohammad Razzaghi; Aziz Hedayati Khoshemehr
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of social capital in organizational and social entrepreneurship of Shiraz University staff with emphasis on the mediating role of knowledge management in the second semester of 2019-2020. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and nature and ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the role of social capital in organizational and social entrepreneurship of Shiraz University staff with emphasis on the mediating role of knowledge management in the second semester of 2019-2020. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and nature and in terms of data collection is a descriptive correlation based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study included all employees of Shiraz University, 558 people. The sample size was 200 according to the statistical population and using simple random sampling method and Morgan table.Standard questionnaires of social capital, organizational entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and knowledge management were used to collect data. The face and content validity of the questionnaires were confirmed by researchers and experts. The reliability of the questionnaires was calculated by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.94, 0.71, 0.94 and 0.87, respectively. The obtained data were analyzed using correlation method and structural equation modeling using SPSS and Lisrel software. The results showed that social capital has a direct, positive and meaningful effect on organizational entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, social capital on knowledge management, knowledge management on organizational entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, Shiraz University staff. Social capital with the mediating role of knowledge management has an impact on organizational entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship of Shiraz University staff. Also, most of the total effect is related to the effect of social capital on organizational entrepreneurship.Social capital has had a direct positive effect on organizational and social entrepreneurship of Shiraz University staff. Social capital can also have a positive and significant effect on organizational and social entrepreneurship of employees through knowledge management. Therefore, employee knowledge management can strengthen the effect of social capital on organizational and social entrepreneurship. Therefore, in order to achieve organizational and social entrepreneurship, it seems necessary to pay attention to social capital and knowledge management.
