A Study on the Viewpoints of Managers and Librarians ofLibraries of Allameh Tabatabaei University onDeveloping Digital Libraries

Considering the major role of libraries in meeting the information needs of their users today, new models are suggested for designing libraries, among which digital libraries have a special place. Such libraries, having more developed capabilities for information management, have an outstanding position among other information resources.This research studied the viewpoints of managers and librarians of the libraries of Allameh Tabatabaei University about developing digital libraries. The research was carried out as a survey, questionnaires are used to collect information and SPSS utilized to analyze the data. Research findings show that the managers and librarians of the libraries of Allameh Tabatabaei University have a good understanding and awareness of digital libraries and a positive opinion about digitizing library resources. They believe in the necessity of such libraries despite the budgetary and facility constraints. Some measures have been taken in this regard, namely subscription to foreign journals through internet and preparing theses in the form of CDs. Furthermore, more than 50 percent of the managers and librarians believe that obstacles to the development of digital libraries include lack of awareness of managers, lack of specialist librarians, out-of-date knowledge of librarians, lack of fluency in foreign languages, lack of computer specialists, the improper position of libraries in administrative structures, lack of clear copyright laws, lack of required equipment, lack of financial facilities and lack of telecommunications infrastructures. The telecommunication facilities of the university are assessed to be at a medium level from the viewpoint of information technology managers.