A feasibility study for offering electronic reference services in the academic libraries of Hamedan

The purpose of this feasibility study is to investigate the offering of the electronic reference services in academic libraries of Hamedan. It is tried to review the situation, facilities and requirements of the libraries needed for electronic reference services for planning future job on developing these services. It is an analytical survey. The questionnaire is used to gather information. The statistical population is 22 university and college Libraries in the city of Hamedan. The statistical analysis is done by SPSS using Chi- Square and “T” test. Research findings show that the libraries from the point of electronic and IT equipments for data collecting, processing, storage, retrieval and disseminating of information in written and oral forms are not in a good condition. It was also showed that the university libraries provide reference services with 59% percent of the limit of low or very low for using Internet services. Other research findings indicate that more than 14 libraries equal to 63/7% of the services are traditional. Also, video conferencing as a tool of communication in reference division has no use. And the e-mail and digital room conversation (chat) in reference services are not in a good condition.Skilled manpower in the reference services are moderate, On the whole, despite the agreement of the mother organization for providing the electronic reference services, 82% percent of the libraries don’t have separate budget and financial support.