Feasibility of implementing the spatial representation of resources using GIS components in general libraries of Guilan province

Due to technological developments, access to remote resources in libraries is a necessity and should be considered as requirements. For public libraries with regard to their mission it is particularly important. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing spatial representation of resources in Guilan public libraries by GIS. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and analytical-survey data collection. All public libraries of Guilan province with 83 items were considered as statistical population. Statistical population included library managers (81 persons) and librarians (67970 persons). The sampling method for the managers and librarians was census and systematic random stratified for members. The sample size for the managers was equal to the statistical population and for members were 382 persons by using the Cochran formula. The research instrument consisted of three types of questionnaires (effectiveness, efficiency and comfort). The validity of the questionnaires was checked by referring to the GIS experts. The reliability of the instruments with using Cronbach's alpha for effectiveness questionnaire was 0.71, Comfort = 0.73 and Efficiency 0.88, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics has been used for data analysis by SPSS software. The results showed that there is no significant difference between present and expected conditions in effectiveness (0.933) and efficiency (0.460) but there is significant difference in the comfort (0.000). Thus, the libraries under study have no problem in terms of effectiveness and technology efficiency, and if the software is properly designed the users could remotely locate the resources of the library.