Information and Knowledge Management
saleh rahimi; Hasti Sedighi; Mahmoud Moradi
Abstract
he purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between information literacy with organizational creativity and job performance of public librarians in Kermanshah province.This research has been done by descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of this study consists of ...
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he purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between information literacy with organizational creativity and job performance of public librarians in Kermanshah province.This research has been done by descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of this study consists of all librarians of public libraries in Kermanshah province (170 persons). Based on Cochran formula, 118 individuals were selected as sample. The sampling method used was stratified random sampling. Three standard questionnaires were used to collect data: Qasemi Information Literacy (2007), Dorabaji et al (1998) and Paterson Job Performance (1970). The reliability of the questionnaires was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and was 0.81, 0.93 and 0.97, respectively, indicating that the questionnaires have a good reliability. Descriptive indices, Pearson correlation coefficient and Sobel test were used to analyze the data and test the research hypotheses.The results showed that librarians who are more creative and high performing, have more information literacy, and can achieve higher goals. Therefore, it can be said that increasing information literacy among librarians makes them more creative and enhances their job performance and consequently improves the performance of public libraries.Based on the results,it can be said that increasing information literacy among librarians makes them more creative and enhances their job performance and consequently improves the performance of public libraries. As a result, Kermanshah Public Library Managers can improve the information literacy of librarians, Enhance their organizational creativity and career performance and improve the performance of their public libraries under their management.
mahnaz namdari; mahmoud moradi; saleh rahimi
Abstract
IntroductionAt the present time, the advancement of technology in every field has accelerated to such an extent that its effects are evident everywhere, so people do not use previous methods to meet their needs. It is in this situation that institutions, organizations, bodies, etc., must change in order ...
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IntroductionAt the present time, the advancement of technology in every field has accelerated to such an extent that its effects are evident everywhere, so people do not use previous methods to meet their needs. It is in this situation that institutions, organizations, bodies, etc., must change in order to maintain their survival and be present in the competition scene, otherwise, they will face challenges. Libraries are among these organizations. If libraries want to move forward with changes and developments and continue their development and evolution, they must have a plan. One of the plans that are proposed in libraries, especially in university libraries, is "strategic planning", having a strategic plan that has a specific time frame, a set of processes or should include special components appropriate for each library, examine the external environment and give a better understanding of the current and future state of the library and create a competitive advantage (Bayat and Esfandiari Moghadam, 2014, p. 85). The strategic planning process in this research is considered based on Bryson's authentic model (2013), the components that Bryson considered for this process in the book Strategic Planning in Government, Public and Non-Profit Organizations include: 1) initial agreement, 2) determining organizational tasks, 3) analyzing stakeholders, 4) mission, 5) understanding the organizational environment, 6) determining strategic issues, 7) determining strategy, 8) describing plans and actions, 9) vision of the organization and 10) operational plan. David (2013) believes that information is updated from moment to moment, as a result, information collection, analysis, and sending and receiving this information affects strategic decisions. It should be noted that information is effective in strategic planning if it is obtained from scientific research and research results and has scientific support in general. The main question of the research is how to rely on evidence-based librarianship with the components of 1) asking/formulating a detailed question in one of the subject areas of librarianship, 2) obtaining/finding the most appropriate evidence, 3) evaluating 4) applying and 5) evaluating the results, to strategic planning with the components of 1) initial agreement, 2) determining organizational tasks, 3) stakeholder analysis, 4) mission, 5) understanding the organizational environment, 6) determining strategic issues, 7) determining the strategy, 8) describing plans and actions, 9) vision of the organization and 10) operational plan helped. According to the purpose, the current research aims to answer the following questions:To what extent is the state of strategic planning of university libraries in Kermanshah based on strategic planning components?To what extent is the awareness of evidence-based librarianship among managers and librarians of university libraries in Kermanshah based on the components of evidence-based librarianship?What is the relationship between strategic planning and evidence-based librarianship components from the point of view of university library managers and librarians? Literature ReviewAccording to the definitions of Elsan and Eddy (1982, p. 4), strategic planning is "a systematic effort, in order to make decisions and carry out fundamental activities that shape the nature and how and why of the organization's actions" in ideally, strategic planning requires gathering extensive and effective information, defining the organization's mission as well as strategic issues, and finally carefully examining various solutions to achieve organizational goals and the future results of current decisions (Bryson, 2010, p. 19). Alphabet of strategic planningA: Where are we?B: Where do we want to be?A: How to reach the destination Planning in the library is not a new phenomenon. The expansion of the use of strategic planning in libraries and the desired results were among the factors that led library managers to strategic planning. Strategic planning in a general perspective leads to the development of understanding and awareness of how the library participates in the development of society. The concept of evidence-based librarianship Evidence-based librarianship means the optimal use of existing research findings in compiling and revising the professional activities of librarians and information specialists. Evidence-based librarianship, with a history of ten years, is considered a relatively new approach in this field, based on which librarians first collect and interpret scientific findings and then create the necessary context for integrating new knowledge to provide their own professional activities. (Mansourian, 2019) Since the idea of evidence-based librarianship was first proposed, its proponents have tried to develop a conceptual framework, principles, and steps for it that would help information professionals understand it and enable them to combine it with their professional performance (Lerdal, 2002). Evidence-based librarianship provides a self-correcting framework in such a way that until new information becomes available, it suggests new directions or methods, Cromley and Kofogianakis (2006).
MethodologyThe present study was descriptive and conducted in a survey method. The statistical population of this study is librarians of Kermanshah University Libraries, which is a total of 63 people. Due to the limited number of people in the statistical population, therefore, sampling has been considered in the research. The data collection tools were two researcher-made questionnaires, strategic planning, and evidence-based librarianship.
ConclusionUniversity libraries perform poorly in terms of implementing strategic planning and using evidence-based librarianship, so it seems that they still follow the previous routine in managing library affairs and providing services.Evidence-based librarianship with an approach to seeking information and expanding knowledge and having a detailed and regulated framework in five stages of formulating questions, obtaining evidence, evaluating evidence, using evidence, and evaluating the effectiveness of the operational plan, has a high capacity in implementing the process. It has strategic planning. Evidence-based librarianship by understanding and recognizing the need and formulating the question in the first stage, extracting valid evidence and finally creating opportunities in the second stage, prioritizing refereed sources in the third stage, and providing a solution with scientific support in the fourth stage, and by examining the effects of the decisions taken in the fifth stage, respectively, leads to transparency and understanding of the problem, to smoothing the detailed information about the problem in question and creating a strategy, to evaluating the strategy and achieving an effective strategy, not sacrificing time and resources in wrong decisions, increasing awareness and knowledge regarding the effectiveness of a strategy, and will be effective in strategic planning. The process of strategic planning in order to identify issues, determine goals, adopt strategies, and predict results requires approaches to gather information, critical analysis, and organization of information, so evidence-based librarianship with accumulated knowledge can be the focus of strategic planning. In other words, evidence-based librarianship acts as a tool in providing detailed information related to the subject for strategic planning, and the effectiveness of this information is to be placed in the framework of the evidence-based librarianship approach. In this way, the information produced in evidence-based librarianship will play a decisive role in strategic planning.
Soraya Sangeneh; Amin Zare; Mahmoud Moradi
Abstract
The aim of this study is to survey the relationship between multilingual skills and information behavior of postgraduate students of Razi University. The research is an applied one that is conducted in a descriptive-analytical and survey method. The statistical population was all postgraduate students ...
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The aim of this study is to survey the relationship between multilingual skills and information behavior of postgraduate students of Razi University. The research is an applied one that is conducted in a descriptive-analytical and survey method. The statistical population was all postgraduate students of Razi University who were studying in the second semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. Two-stage stratified sampling is used. The sample size was estimated by 365 Cochran's formula. The required data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS software Version 23. Findings showed no significant relationship between multilingual skills and information behavior in general. Four variables including age, gender, level of education, and employment were studied. Only level of education and employment had significant and positive relationship on students' information behavior. But there was no significant relationship between familiarity with different languages and information behavior of postgraduate students of Razi University. By examining the effect of language on students' information behavior, it is possible to predict their information behavior, provide better information resources that they need, and avoid spending money on unused resources. Students do not seem to be aware of the important power of language in their behavior, so it is necessary for students and universities to pay more attention to this issue. One of the solutions is to hold training classes and strengthen language skills, which can be held by universities and students themselves to take these courses outside the university.
Mahmoud Moradi; Sara Bahrami Nia
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of librarian information literacy on organizational growth of Kermanshah public libraries. In this study, the information literacy level of public librarians in Kermanshah and also the impact of information literacy on organization growth ...
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of librarian information literacy on organizational growth of Kermanshah public libraries. In this study, the information literacy level of public librarians in Kermanshah and also the impact of information literacy on organization growth were determined. Methodology: descriptive correlational study and survey was conducted. The populations of all public librarians in Kermanshah province with a total of 215 persons. The sample size was determined using Cochran sampling formula of 138 people. To collected data, a questionnaire measuring information literacy standards and organization growth in the five-item Likert scale is used. Findings: The finding showed that the information literacy and its components (the ability to locate information, the ability to evaluate information and the ability to make effective use of information) among public librarians in Kermanshah was proper. The highest frequency component related to the ability to locate information (60.3) and the lowest rate, the ability to make effective use of information (30.3), respectively.conclusion: information literacy is a basic need for everyone and because the skills of individuals in the development of society, so the results of the evaluation of information literacy librarian and relationship skill development and organizational effectiveness as well as the efforts and planning for improvement level, in order to achieve these goals will help. Because the ability to use that information literacy is one of the main factors for librarians as providers of information dissemination is inevitable and necessary.
Sara Bahrami Nia; Mahmoud Moradi
Abstract
Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the average willingness to pay for the services of Kermanshah Medical Libraries and its effective factors.Methodology: The present study is based on a survey method and conditional valuation, which is part of the preferred method of reporting, ...
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Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the average willingness to pay for the services of Kermanshah Medical Libraries and its effective factors.Methodology: The present study is based on a survey method and conditional valuation, which is part of the preferred method of reporting, to determine the willingness to pay. The research population of all users of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences libraries was 7470 people. The sample was 553 people based on Michel and Carson's formula. A simple random sampling method was used to select the sample. The data gathering tool was a two-dimensional questionnaire. cronbach's alpha (0.86) was used to determine the reliability. Data analysis was done using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics and nonparametric logistic regression test using simultaneous input of variables.Findings: The average annual willingness of users to use the services of medical science libraries was 20600 toman. Also, the results showed that the education variable had a positive and significant effect on the willingness to pay the users. From the perspective of users, among the various resources and services of medical libraries, books and publications, online databases, offline databases and theses of first rank are other services, which will be worth the cost.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that users are willing to pay annual or monthly amounts to maintain the current services of medical university libraries. It can be said that if paying money would improve the services and change the current situation of the library, It is clear that according to the view of users, higher economic value and, consequently, the willingness to pay for a variety of resources and services of academic libraries will increase significantly.
Mahmoud Moradi; Saleh Rahimi; Forozan Karami
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the amount of electronic and printed resources and its effective factors among students of Razi and Azad University of Kermanshah.Methodology: This research is applied in terms of its purpose and in terms of survey method. The data gathering tool ...
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Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the amount of electronic and printed resources and its effective factors among students of Razi and Azad University of Kermanshah.Methodology: This research is applied in terms of its purpose and in terms of survey method. The data gathering tool is a questionnaire. The statistical population is the students of Razi and Azad University of Kermanshah in the academic year 1995-96, of which 35014 people and the sample number are estimated using 380 Cochran formulas. A stratified random sampling method was used for sampling, and descriptive statistics mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics, variance, and ANOVA were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.Findings: The results of the study showed that 63.45% of the students used electronic resources and 36.55% of printed materials. Among the sources of electronic sources, the databases with the highest of 92.6 percent and the rate of use of electronic resources are very high, and print resources are moderately evaluated. The extent to which information needs are met by databases with an average of 4.66 at the highest level and the websites with the average of 2.37 have the lowest level of satisfying the information needs of the students. Access to information in the shortest time (4 / 88%), the most important inducing factor, and destructive effects on the eyes and brain (58.9%), were the main inhibitor of using electronic resources. Correct and valid information (62.1%), the most important factor provoking, and the time consuming process of search and lending (61.8%), were the main deterrent to using print resources.Conclusion: The results of the research showed that, while using electronic resources due to their advantages, they are more than printed sources, but print resources are still used remarkably, so electronic resources can not be obtained. They are completely replaced by print sources, but used as complementary material.
