A study on information literacy instruction on the websites of Iranian Academic Libraries

This article tries to investigate the level of information literacy instruction on the websites of Iranian academic libraries, and to examine the influence of the penetration of these tools. Using a survey methodology, 42 academic library websites (Ministry of Science, Research and Technology) were selected and analyzed in this study. Results indicated that Ferdowsi University of Mashhad ranked first (80%), University of Tehran, Tarbiat Modares University, and University of Mazandaran jointly ranked second (70%) and the University of Elmo sanat (Science and Technology), Imam Khomeini International University, University of Isfahan, and Kerman Shahid Bahonar University jointly ranked third (60%). Further analysis revealed that option of "about us" is used frequently (76.19%), and options of "ask a librarian", "FAQ", and "list of journals (ISI, ISC, …)" are used infrequently (11.90 %). The presentation of information literacy instructions on the websites of those Iranian academic libraries which offer LIS programs, is 50%. Based on the findings of this study, it seems that the use of information literacy instructions on academic library websites is at a low level (31.66%). At the end of this paper, the researchers have provided selected components of information literacy instruction to be offered on the websites of academic libraries.