نشریه تحقیقات اطلاع رسانی و کتابخانه های عمومی
پیاپی 107 (زمستان 1400)

Libraries as social institutions have an indispensable role in meeting the educational and cultural needs of society. However, the economic downturn has increasingly increased the costs of library services, and consequently, limited them in implementation of the programs. Creative economics is a shortcut to making money through art, culture, and science that can partially solve the problem of library budgets. For this purpose, the present study seeks to investigate the pattern of earning income in public libraries with a creative economics approach.

This research is fundamental in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of nature, which was conducted by using the grounded theory method. Participants were 19 expert experts with sufficient experience and interest in the research topic. They were selected from the fields of librarianship, entrepreneurship, and economics by purposive sampling method from a wide range of communites. Data collection was performed using semi-structured interviews and systematic open-ended questions through telephone and virtual networks. The interviews continued until sufficient information was obtained for saturation.

Data analysis showed that the theoretical basis of the revenue model in libraries consisted of six core components: 1. management mechanisms with sub-components of: nurturing role of senior managers in creating change, providing facilities and equipment, contribution of librarians, and management’s attention to creative human resources; 2. financial and administrative mechanisms which include: development and stabilization of resources and optimization of expenditures, resource management, administrative support for investment, and increasing the financial strength of libraries; 3. proper mechanisms with sub-components of: amending the libraries’ establishment law, creating a legal process for obtaining revenue licenses, clarification of laws and regulations; 4. educational mechanisms which include: in-service training in and familiarity with interactive methods, training and creation, changing training methods, familiarity with new training methods, and changing the attitude of managers to training methods; 5. revenue-generating mechanisms with sub-components of: creating logical interaction with customers, designing service delivery and plans, setting a schedule of financial independence, creating a wide network of product distribution; and 6. structural mechanisms including: strong and continuous support for management programs, improving the quality of cultural services and products, improving social status, promoting specialized management, preparing a strategic document for the creative economy. The development of library services depends on the intelligent mechanisms of the creative economy of these components.

 While the economic downturn and the lack of financial resources have forced libraries to choose the extra income path for their survival, no research has been done on this subject in Iran. Creative economics and entrepreneurship allow libraries to generate revenue through art, culture, and science. Creative revenue will be a big step towards budget independence and reducing the financial burden on libraries, and consequently, reducing staff livelihood concerns, financing acquisitions and up-to-date resources, as well as maintenance of library building. Of course, it should be noted that the creative economy does not only harm the provision of standard library services but also puts public services on the path to prosperity and development due to the legitimacy of social capital and the revenue it brings to libraries.

State-of-the-art technology refers to the best and latest technological advancement possible at a particular time. Today, public libraries play a key role in the various cultural and social spheres of society. Although various technologies can help to fulfill the basic roles of public libraries correctly and completely, their application in the context of these libraries undoubtedly faces many complexities and difficulties. This study aims to identify the state-of-the-art technologies that can be used in the management of public libraries, as well as to determine the priority of their use in public libraries in Iran.

In the first step, based on the library study method and literature review, a preliminary list of state-of-the-art technologies applicable to public library management, as well as a list of their evaluation criteria was extracted. In order to validate the initial lists, two qualitative methods based on the consensus of stakeholders (Delphi panel and nominal group) were used with the presence of the main stakeholders in public libraries in the areas of 1) finance, 2) management and administration, 3) technology, 4) librarianship, and 5) user. In the second step, in order to evaluate technologies based on evaluation criteria, Shannon entropy method was used to weight the evaluation criteria, and group TOPSIS method was employed to prioritize state-of-the-art technologies based on the extracted criteria.

In the first step, a valid list was obtained, which includes 28 state-of-the-art technologies applicable in the management of public libraries and 27 evaluation criteria classified into three levels: strategic (7 criteria), technical and operational (11 criteria) and user (9 criteria). In the second step, the priority of the extracted state-of-the-art technologies was obtained based on the evaluation criteria. Based on these results, social network/messenger, high speed internet on fiber optic platform, universal library membership system (linked library), public library mobile application and digital library system were in the first to fifth priorities of state-of-the-art technologies.

 According to these 28 categories of state-of-the-art technologies, as well as the development and application of high-priority technologies, it is possible to improve the quality of performance of public libraries in various fields. Therefore, based on the research results, it is suggested that in addition to creating soft and hard infrastructures for the identified technologies, Iran Public Libraries Foundation evaluate the feasibility of designing and implementing or using the priority technologies.

The Purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between self-awareness and job performance among the librarians of public libraries in East Azerbaijan province.

This research is an applied study in terms of purpose and quantitative-descriptive and correlational in terms the type and manner of collecting research data, which was conducted using the survey method. The research population consisted of all librarians of public libraries of East Azerbaijan province, who numbered 273 according to the statistics of Iran Public Libraries Foundation. According to Cochran's formula, 160 cases were selected as a statistical sample and questionnaires were randomly distributed among them. 81 librarians completed and returned questionnaires. For data collection, Saleh Bolourdi questionnaire for self-awareness (2009) was used and for job performance, two questionnaires were used: questionnaire on functional job performance by Birneh et al. (2005), and questionnaire on contextual job performance by Connery (1999). The content validity of the research instrument was verified by experts and specialists, and the reliability of the questionnaire was equal to 0.756 for the self-awareness questionnaire and 0.925 for the job performance questionnaire, according to Cronbach’s alpha coefficient respectively. Due to the normality of data distribution, Pearson correlation test was used to discover the relationship between the two variables and multiple regression test was used to predict the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Pearson correlation test results showed that there was a meaningful correlation between self-awareness of public librarians and their job performance (0.289). The results of multiples linear regression explain three variables of task job performance, including: self-wareness in public setting (0.171), self-wareness in personal setting (0.180) and self-awareness in managerial position (0.445). They also explain three variables of contextual job performance, including: self-wareness in public setting (0.188), self-wareness in personal setting (0.253) and self-awareness in managerial position (0.460).

The present study is innovative in that it has independently examined the role of self-awareness and its dimensions in the task and contextual job performance of public librarians. According to the research findings, self-awareness can be a major factor in improving the job performance of librarians. Therefore, Iran Public Libraries Foundation can design and run the necessary workshops and educational programs to increase the level of self-awareness of librarians.

The purpose of this research is to identify the viewpoints of Bandar Abbas public libraries librarians and users about the challenges and strategies of users’ participation in public library activities and services.

The methodology used in this research is qualitative. The potential partners of this study include 20 librarians in five Bandar Abbas public libraries and users of these libraries. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were used. After interviewing with 11 librarians and 11 users, the interview ended since theoretical saturation was reached. In order to ensure the accuracy and validity of the questions prepared for the interview, assistance was sought from three faculty members of knowledge and information science. To ensure the reliability of interview data, the directive interview technique was used and the members of research committee evaluated and examined the interview data.

By analyzing the interviews, the basic themes for the concept of user participation in library, the challenges facing users and their solutions for participation were presented. Eight basic themes were elicited for the concept of user participation in library which was categorized into two components: affectionate and organizing, and negative organizing. Affectionate component included a functional interaction in both theoretical and practical fields. Theoretical interaction involves include the three basic themes of consultation and brainstorm, sharing ideas and solidarity. Interaction in the field of practice includes the three themes of voluntary cooperation in executive affairs, two-way relationship, constructive and beneficial and profitability through synergy of forces.  For clarifying the challenges of user participation on libraries, 26 themes were elicited and categorized into 4 organizing themes: financial challenges, structural challenges, challenges of interpersonal and organizational relationships, and the challenges resulting from lack of awareness. Furthermore, user participation strategies were elicited in the form of 21 basic themes and 3 themes which include: financial solutions, structural solutions, and interpersonal and organizational solutions. Most of the librarians and users participating in this research believe that user participation has a great impact on advancement of library, and consider it useful for library, librarians and users. However, there are limitations and obstacles in the way of users’ participation in libraries. One can conclude that the ultimate solution to the challenges associated with user participation in libraries is to institutionalize community-based librarianship.

 Among the most important contributions of this research are to understand the phenomenon of user participation in the activities and services of public libraries as well as to understand the challenges and strategies of user participation in these activities.

To identify and prioritize the factors affecting innovation and creativity in public libraries from the perspective of public librarians in Khuzestan province.

The present research is an exploratory and mixed study in terms of purpose. The statistical population in the qualitative section included 22 university professors who were selected by purposive sampling. The research population in the quantitative section included all librarians of public libraries in Khuzestan province. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency and frequency percentage and inferential statistics tests including t-test, structural equation modeling, heuristic factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS and Wimos software.

Qualitative section of research involved the identification of 50 components affecting creativity and innovation in public libraries in Khuzestan province. Based on the findings of the quantitative section, the factors affecting creativity and innovation in public libraries from the perspective of librarians of public libraries in Khuzestan province can be classified into 8 general factors, which are: organizational culture, individual factors and personality traits, organizational structure, organizational strategy, organizational management and leadership, organizational climate, organizational motivation and reward, and organizational resources.

In order to develop creativity in all organizational elements, there must be an atmosphere in which employees feel free in the way they perform their duties and have control over their work, and their authority and choices should be supported in achieving goals, and the control over individuals’ work should be reduced to a minimum. Motivation and reward, as an effective factor in fostering creativity and innovation, is the driving force of employees’ creativity. Motivations such as welfare and financial issues, self-preservation, curiosity, convenience, ambition and the need for success make employees strive to provide comfort for themselves and others. Identification of the factors and components affecting creativity and innovation had not been carried out in Iran thus far. Therefore, the factors identified in this study can be used in the process of planning and managing public libraries as well as in improving the quality of services. Furthermore, the results of this case study can be generalized to public libraries in other provinces, and also can be used in similar organizations.

One of the most effective ways to promote a culture of reading around the world is to encourage reading in childhood. However, children’s reading faces many challenges, including non-targeted educational policies, increasing children's attention to cyberspace, lack of special libraries, the expensiveness of books, and so on. Traditional measures have not been able to solve the problems in the field of promoting children’s books. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to identify the challenges of previous actions as well as to help solve these challenges by fostering innovative ideas through holding innovation events. In order to achieve its goals, this research study the case of innovative book and child event as a reference for production process, collecting and promoting innovative ideas, standardization, value creation, and also prepare the ground for its implementation, and provide solutions for the relevant policy-making agencies.

First, through systematic literature review and then through interviews with experts and application of content analysis method, the challenges of traditional actions in the field of children’s books were identified. Reconciliation between children and reading and increasing the children’ desire to read and development of creative ideas in this field wad occured in the form of a startup event. This event is a reference for guiding production process, collecting and promoting innovative ideas, team building, value creation and preparing the ground for its implementation as well as providing solutions for the relevant policy makers.

At first, the existing challenges in the field of books and children were identified in 4 areas (infrastructure, cultural, content, economic). Then, the innovative book and child event, as a startup event in the form of action research that includes four phases of planning, action, observation and reflection, was examined.

The numerous challenges identified in the field of promoting children's books have clearly highlighted the need for innovative initiatives. Therefore, in addition to identifying and initially evaluating new applied plans, the innovative book and child event in a dynamic process, challenged these plans, strengthened them in terms of technicality, market and business as well as provided the necessary ground for commercialization of the plan. For example, in this event, an attempt was made to omit intermediaries by creating a direct connection between the publisher and the author, and thus preventing costly publishing, so that the publishers invested in the idea after seeing the initial idea. Another important occurrence in this event was the presence of experts in the field of books and children and their direct contact with the creators of ideas, which greatly helped to improve the quality of works and richness of content and was able to cut the hands of non-specialists