Zoya Abam; Mohaddeseh Afzali
Abstract
IntroductionResearch Data Services (RDS) are defined as services that support the research data lifecycle. Introduction: Although researchers are responsible for the stages of creating and collecting, processing, and analyzing their research data, the responsibility for the reuse of data, the stages ...
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IntroductionResearch Data Services (RDS) are defined as services that support the research data lifecycle. Introduction: Although researchers are responsible for the stages of creating and collecting, processing, and analyzing their research data, the responsibility for the reuse of data, the stages of tracking and obtaining research data files, evaluation and selection, secure storage, description, organization, protection, and long-term preservation in the data lifecycle is not with researchers. All of these stages are areas in the data lifecycle that should be carried out by "Research Data Services". The purpose of this study was to identify the status of research data services (RDS) in central libraries of public universities affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) and to determine the status and identify its importance and requirements. Literature ReviewThe need for infrastructure in the field of research, including the challenges of managing research data, is essential (Osareh, Sam & Ghaebi, 2022; Singh, Bharti and Madalli, 2022; Kim, 2021; Chiware & Becker, 2018; Nhendodzashe & Pasipamire, 2017; Tenopir et al., 2017). Many research findings have indicated that the provision of these services in universities is still in its early stages. (Singh, Bharti & Madalli, 2022; Chiware & Becker, 2018; Nhendodzashe & Pasipamire, 2017). However, these services are recently being offered in the university libraries of some developed countries. (Yu, 2017; Tenopir et al., 2017; Cox, et al., 2017; Kerby, 2016; Si et al., 2015). Some research findings have acknowledged that librarians and libraries are the best resources for providing research data services. Additionally, librarians believe that conducting these services through libraries is of great importance, considering it enhances the library’s collection and services (Kim, 2021; Faniel & Connaway, 2017; Tenopir et al., 2017; Si et al., 2015; Searle et al., 2015). Meanwhile, other research findings have shown the need to increase librarians’ professional knowledge in this area (Cox, et al., 2017; Chiware & Becker, 2018; Faniel & Connaway; Nhendodzashe & Pasipamire, 2017; Searle, 2015; Hiom, 2015). By surveying and summarizing the research on research data services, one may conclude that the field of research data services is a relatively new area with its specific issues and subjects. MethodologyThe present research is an applied one in terms of purpose which has been conducted in a descriptive survey method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire consists of 4 parts and contains a total of 49 items. The statistical population consists of 94 managers of central libraries of public universities affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology(MSRT). Finally, 72 (76.59%) managers answered the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. ResultsResearch findings indicated that library managers have a positive attitude towards the importance of research data services and more than 70% of them strongly agree that library data research services are of great importance. The findings also showed that all the requirements for research data services are very important. But based on average ratings, availability of appropriate technology infrastructure for research data services (8.85), development of enterprise repository software for research data management (8.85), existence of a research data plan for research data services (8.76), development of librarians' knowledge and skills in research data services (8.42) and librarians' desire to develop their knowledge and skills in research data services (8.33) were the most important requirements for providing research data services. In addition, currently, many libraries intend to perform research data services (between one to three years or more over the next three years), some of which have no plans to provide these services and few of them provide these services partially or completely. The findings also indicated that from the point of view of managers, the librarians' knowledge and skills of central libraries of public universities affiliated to MSRT (3.1 average) are generally above average for performing research data services. DiscussionThe provision of research data services by the library is important for various reasons. Among these, the benefits and advantages include adequate responsiveness to the research needs of the university by the library, allocation of scientific, executive, and functional credit for executing innovative research services to the library, increased collaboration between the library and faculty members, postgraduate students, and planning for allocating more budget to library services. Undertaking research data services leads to the integrated management of various research resources generated in the university, enhancement of library collections and services, and the benefit of researchers from library-based research data services. Considering the mentioned points and the current status of research data services in libraries, it can be stated that with appropriate planning for creating and developing the identified essential requirements, steps toward the advancement and improvement of the current situation can be taken. However, preparing the prerequisites for providing these services itself is somewhat of facing the challenges of its execution and overcoming obstacles in operationalizing such services. This matter requires comprehensive and all-encompassing support from the university for the library and timely and effective efforts by the library. ConclusionConsidering the importance of providing research data services by academic libraries, paying attention to the requirements of these services can be effective in the improvement of performing the research data services in academic libraries. There is also a fundamental need to develop librarians' knowledge and skills in research data services. The results of this research can be used in universities, especially the central libraries of universities, to plan research data services.
Faegheh Mohammadi; Rahim Pouri
Abstract
IntroductionOrganizations and social institutions should be innovative in order to avoid harmful changes in the environment. In educational institutions, such as universities, in which the head of the institution lacks funds, there are two columns related to the library, and the first is the head of ...
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IntroductionOrganizations and social institutions should be innovative in order to avoid harmful changes in the environment. In educational institutions, such as universities, in which the head of the institution lacks funds, there are two columns related to the library, and the first is the head of the head of the head of the head of the head of the head. Karol's budget reduction due to lack of turnover. Increase the cost of personnel, increase the service level, and expand the planning ability. In the culture of an academic library, many librarians are expected to be entrepreneurial and innovative, but how can an academic librarian be an entrepreneur? And how does an academic library create a completely new service? There are few methods of managing and evaluating the success of innovation, and academic librarians are not well-versed in these methods. Despite the benefits mentioned above that the use of creativity and innovation can bring to libraries, factors such as the lack of resources and budgets in libraries have caused them not to try to provide the right environment for the cultivation of this creativity. Accordingly, librarians should not have the desire to exchange knowledge and experience and develop their innovative and creative abilities. What seems obvious in the meantime is that the mere presence of equipment and facilities in the library, as well as the mere presentation of ideas by people in theory, cannot guarantee the success of libraries in using creative ideas in practice, unless they use technology creatively. With more than 50 librarians as intellectual assets, the libraries of Tabriz University are among the important research centers in the country, which can play an important role in increasing productivity by valuing the creative ideas of their librarians and putting their ideas into practice.Research Questions: The general goal of this research is to investigate the factors influencing creativity and innovation in university libraries from the point of view of the librarians of this university. Therefore, considering this goal, in this research, an attempt has been made to answer the basic questions such as the concept of creativity and innovation from the point of view of librarians, as well as encouraging and inhibiting factors in order to propose new ideas by librarians from their own point of view.Literature ReviewIn 2019, Llewellyn conducted a review of the literature on academic library innovations for learning and teaching. In this research, he identified issues related to the roles of university librarians in innovation. Some of these roles include digital learning/e-learning skills; information literacy; participation and learning. Llewellyn concluded in this research that the innovations that affect society are more than the innovations that are only for learning and education.Jantz (2013) has conducted a research related to innovation in university research libraries. Jantzen's analysis showed that average age, average work experience, level of education, field of study, and managers' view of librarians' creative ability cannot significantly predict innovation in university research libraries.Vaughan (2013) examined technological innovation in academic libraries. The research results were collected through a questionnaire. The questions in the questionnaire evaluate issues such as managers' understanding of what constitutes innovation, technological developments that can be recognized as innovation, important considerations when deciding to implement an innovation, and how managers support innovation in the libraries under their management. Vaughan provided significant evidence of the importance of innovation in the academic library community, however, the methodology used by him in this study has little precision. Methodology In this research, a qualitative method of phenomenological study has been used to investigate the issue more deeply. The required data have been collected using semi-structured interviews until reaching theoretical saturation. The statistical population included all the librarians working in the central library and the libraries affiliated to the University of Tabriz, and the sample of the research was obtained from among these people by a purposeful snowball method. At the end of each interview, each of the librarians introduced a few of their colleagues who were specialists in information science and were interested in making changes and innovations in libraries to the researchers. Finally, with 14 qualified librarians, the required data was reached and completed DiscussionBased on the findings, the key factors effective in creativity and innovation in university libraries from the perspective of Tabriz University librarians are divided into three categories including: individual factors, organizational factors, and idea characteristics. Individual factors include things such as having the spirit of innovation and creativity, having the motivation to present creative ideas, having job-related education by employees and managers, and having the spirit of risk-taking.Organizational factors include the support of librarians' ideas and budget allocation. The characteristics of the idea include factors such as cost-effectiveness, coordination with the goals of the library, visibility by other people and organizations, and the ability to implement the idea in the library environment. From the results of this research, it appears that library managers' acceptance of librarians' ideas motivates creative librarians, so it is suggested that library managers welcome the creative ideas of their employees and try to increase the dynamics of libraries and implement them. Also, since the implementation of the ideas requires the financial support of the parent organization, it is necessary for the library managers to allocate sufficient funds to the libraries in order to implement the ideas by consulting with the superior managers and justifying them to be able to receive sufficient funds for the library. So that they can increase the productivity of the library by implementing creative ideas.
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.
Tayebeh Abash; Fahimeh Babalhavaeji; Dariush Matlabi
Abstract
IntroductionThe increasing increase of knowledge as the most important source of competitive advantage in the current era in various scientific fields, especially in the field of business, on the one hand, and the selection of appropriate knowledge management strategies to achieve the goals of organizations, ...
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IntroductionThe increasing increase of knowledge as the most important source of competitive advantage in the current era in various scientific fields, especially in the field of business, on the one hand, and the selection of appropriate knowledge management strategies to achieve the goals of organizations, on the other hand, has doubled the importance of knowledge audit in today's competitive world. The goal of knowledge audit is to evaluate the knowledge management processes to match them with the organization's goals. So that they can organize their own obvious and existing knowledge well and extract the hidden knowledge of their employees and provide the necessary grounds to discover and identify gaps in the creation, organization, sharing and application of knowledge and the process of knowledge sharing and transfer. Accelerate in organizations. In academic environments, the understanding of the importance of knowledge as a critical source of knowledge audit for organizations is increasing. Knowledge creates a competitive advantage, and organizations that are not able to audit knowledge and use it correctly are doomed to failure in the field of competition. One of the tools that can help organizations in achieving these goals is knowledge audit. Academic libraries also use innovations, philosophies, strategies and techniques used in different sectors in search of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage and in the direction of creating strategic knowledge for strategic academic purposes. In this regard, university libraries can rely on knowledge audit strategies not only to be able to face changes, but also to have a preventive approach or to be the agent of change.Research Question(s)the problem of the present research is, what are the dimensions, components and indicators of knowledge audit in Iranian academic libraries?Literature ReviewKnowledge audit is a review, review, measurement and evaluation of the organization's intellectual assets that identifies how these assets are used. Knowledge audit specifies the organization's knowledge needs, the location of the organization's knowledge, how to use it, identifying the organization's knowledge obstacles and problems and providing methods to improve the organization's knowledge, which includes the following processes:Planning: In this stage, the goals, missions, missions, strategies, limitations and scope of the knowledge audit are determined.Data collection: In this stage, data is collected based on the information of the previous stage through interviews, questionnaires, etc.Data processing: In this step, valid and invalid data are identified and the accuracy and validity of the data is determined.Data analysis: In this stage, after quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the value of knowledge capital, effectiveness and efficiency of knowledge management are evaluated.Reporting: In this step, a report is presented on how the organization's knowledge flows, knowledge resources, problems and related limitations.Summary: In this stage, the knowledge map of the organization is presented and solutions are suggested to improve the knowledge management of the organization (Jehani Freemani, 2015). MethodologyThis research is of an applied type, which was carried out with the descriptive survey research method. The statistical population of this research includes the main managers and managers of central library departments of universities affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. The sampling method of the libraries was chosen according to their dispersion in the whole country, first by random cluster sampling and then by targeted sampling of the central library of the largest university in the capital of the province. 300 questionnaires were distributed among them, of which 279 questionnaires were answered.ResultsBased on the findings of the organizational vision and goals research, data and knowledge analysis, explicit and implicit knowledge measurement, knowledge flow mapping, identifying strategic elements of the organization, analyzing the gap between existing and desirable knowledge, preparing the organization, identifying the knowledge audit process, forming Knowledge audit working group, knowledge flow analysis, identification of organization's valuable assets, information evaluation, current knowledge health measurement and knowledge application analysis are effective factors in knowledge audit. Based on the correlation matrix between research variables, there is a significant relationship between knowledge audit components at the level of 0.01.The results of the structural equation model showed that the path coefficients are also positive and significant at the 0.01 level, which indicates their positive effect on knowledge audit in Iranian academic libraries.The tested model had an absolute fit index of GOF of 0.50, and the value obtained for this fit index indicates the appropriate fit of the tested model. Therefore, it can be said that the components of knowledge audit working group formation, knowledge flow analysis and current knowledge health measurement have a greater role in the knowledge audit of libraries.DiscussionThe results showed that the status of knowledge audit components in the central library of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and the central library of Gilan University is higher than other libraries. In explaining the results of the research, it can be said that knowledge audit plays a very important role in supporting the knowledge needed by university libraries; Because it can examine how knowledge is transferred in libraries and its use inside and outside libraries, and after that, by identifying the weaknesses and strengths of libraries, it examines the gaps in them and by preventing Rework helps to manage and audit their knowledge effectively.ConclusionThe purpose of the present research is to analyze the audit of knowledge in Iranian university libraries. Based on the results of the research, it was found that managers can benefit from knowledge audit in improving the quality of university library services. By applying knowledge audit, managers review, examine, measure and evaluate the intellectual assets of the organization and evaluate the knowledge reserves and flow of the entire organization.
Soghra Darzi Kholardi; Seyed Ali Asghar Razavi; Mitra Ghiasi
Abstract
Maturity models were introduced with the advancement, development and application of technologies and are considered as management topics. Maturity models have levels that each level includes the characteristics related to it. Using maturity models, the effectiveness and performance of the organization ...
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Maturity models were introduced with the advancement, development and application of technologies and are considered as management topics. Maturity models have levels that each level includes the characteristics related to it. Using maturity models, the effectiveness and performance of the organization can be evaluated. In the present study, articles on maturity models and maturity capability models with a qualitative approach and meta-combined method are reviewed. In addition to examining maturity models in different fields and examining the dimensions of that maturity model, the ability to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of university libraries should be examined. The existing writings on maturity models are based on their translation and interpretation. Based on this, 93 valid sources in the field of maturity models and 37 sources in the field of maturity models of capability and university libraries were examined. By analyzing the sources, 3 categories, 9 indicators and 21 codes for the characteristics of each level were obtained for the maturity model of university libraries. Based on the results, the technical category and the concept of hardware and software systems have the first rank and are of higher importance. The maturity model of university libraries helps library and university administrators to plan for the promotion of each level and reach the ideal level by determining and evaluating the characteristics of each level.
Oranus Tajedini; ALI Sadat Mosavi; Mehdi Alizadeh
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and mental health among librarians working in academic libraries. This study is a descriptive-correlational study. The study population consisted of 210 librarians working in the libraries of all public universities in Tehran. ...
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This study aims to evaluate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and mental health among librarians working in academic libraries. This study is a descriptive-correlational study. The study population consisted of 210 librarians working in the libraries of all public universities in Tehran. The required data is obtained through the librarian’s responses to the questionnaires of spiritual intelligence and public health. Findings show that there is a statistically significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and mental health. The coefficient of determination between the two variables showed that 51 percent of mental health changes can be predicted with the help of spiritual intelligence. Besides, little difference was found neither between the spiritual intelligence of men and women working in the libraries nor in marital status. The mean score of mental health according to the librarians’ gender shows that, descriptively, the mean of male librarians’ mental health score (66) has been higher than the mean female librarians’ mental health score (65), but this is not as significant as to be able to confirm it statistically. In today's world, to continue their human lives, people need a factor to maintain their spirituality, which is called spiritual intelligence. Introduction of spiritual intelligence as a structure could provide new capacity in the psychology of religion and keeping this human greatness in contrast to today's materialism is crucial.
Nafiseh Sabzevari; Hasan Ghahnavieh; Marzieh Ahmadpour
Abstract
Purpose of this study was to investigate ways of theft and damage to the library resources and the factors affecting them in the Libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Method of this research is Survey and type of study is functional. Data collection tool is researcher made questionnaire ...
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Purpose of this study was to investigate ways of theft and damage to the library resources and the factors affecting them in the Libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Method of this research is Survey and type of study is functional. Data collection tool is researcher made questionnaire based on the Likert scale and test-retest reliability was calculated through test-retest correlation coefficient which is 0/917 and statistical population consists of 64 students of whom 379 were selected based on Morgan table and 57 people from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Library. The data refers to the population and descriptive statistics and SPSS software has been used. The findings showed that increasing the number of employees (70%) and purchasing more copies of a source (56%); and library equipment Surveillance cameras (81%), dealing verbal warnings and fining and expelling the culprits as ways to prevent damage to library materials have been proposed. The results showed that serious actions in damaging library resources included: separating the book from its cover, or cutting the pages and photos of the book. And know that the regulations were effective in damage to library resources.
Ebrahim Zarei; Esmat Momeni
Abstract
Pur: the purpose of the present study is to determine the level of knowledge sharing and creativity and the relationship between them. Among Libraries’ Librarians Tarbiat Modares University in 1392. Methodology: the methodology applied for the present study is descriptive-correlation. The ...
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Pur: the purpose of the present study is to determine the level of knowledge sharing and creativity and the relationship between them. Among Libraries’ Librarians Tarbiat Modares University in 1392. Methodology: the methodology applied for the present study is descriptive-correlation. The study population included 50 librarians and libraries of Humanities, Engineering and the Central Library of the Tarbiat Modares University. Findings: the status of knowledge sharing among the librarians of Tarbiat Moddares University is far from satisfactory, but the creativity of these librarians is up to the scratch. The rate of solidarity between knowledge sharing and creativity with %8 shows that no significant solidarity or relationship exists between them .Conclusion: the libraries ought to participate in educational and research activities in order to improve and enhance knowledge sharing, to propagate and share information and knowledge among librarians and ought to provide required infrastructures for sharing knowledge in the library.
