Analysis of traditional reference questions of National Library and Archives of IR of Iran

This research aims to examine content analysis of traditional reference questions. A content analysis method was used to measure all traditional reference questions during one month including 354 questions. Types of reference questions، relationship between asked questions and sociological characteristics of patrons، subject approach of traditional reference questions and the extent to which the patrons of reference desk use virtual reference services of NLAI all were discussed in the paper. Data analyzing of the research showed that the research population mostly includes women (65/53%) and the educational degree of most of patrons is M. S degree (49. 29%). Also the findings showed that ready reference questions (42/66%) are mostly asked at reference desk while research reference questions (6/78%) are from the ones which have been less questioned. Most of the questions are in the subjects of computer science، information & general works (000) and the least of them are in the fields of philosophy & psychology (100) according to DDC. Originality/ value: Members of NLAI do not go to reference desk to ask their reaserch questions so NLAI should effectively plan to inform about such services (traditional and digital) through broushoures both electronic and printed ones and also holding educational workshops