Environmental Status of the Public Libraries Affiliated to Iran Public Libraries Foundation from the Librarian's Viewpoints Based on the Criteria of 5S Symmetry System

The purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental status of the public libraries of the province of Kerman affiliated to Iran public libraries foundation from the librarians’ viewpoints based on the criteria of 5S symmetry system. The research method is a survey method. The research questionnaire with 77 components was prepared based on the criteria of 5S symmetry system. The research population is the librarians of the public libraries of the province of Kerman affiliated to Iran public libraries foundation including 53 men and 154 women. The findings show that the librarians assessed the library environments from the point of view of organization of materials as “good and positive.” Regarding the discipline and order criteria in the mentioned libraries, the librarians reported their dissatisfaction. From the point of view of cleanliness criterion in libraries, 80% of the librarians evaluated it as “positive and acceptable”. Regarding the standardization criterion in libraries, 60% of the librarians had positive views. Regarding the 5th criterion of symmetry system, i.e. participation and job discipline, 42% of the librarians reported acceptable views. They assessed their performance and their co-operation with other librarians and library colleagues as “acceptable”. Originality/Value: So far, no research has been conducted concerning the environmental assessment of public libraries by the criterion of 5S symmetry system, and the present research is the first one in this regard. Also, the public libraries foundation and the authorities of other libraries of the country can perform their library environmental assessments by using the 5S system and do their best in case of a need to perform this system in environments such as public libraries.