نشریه پژوهش های کتابخانه های دیجیتالی و هوشمند
سال دوازدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 46، پاییز 1404)

Academic libraries are key infrastructures for supporting education and research, and the spread of digital technologies has pushed them toward smart transformation. Smart libraries use tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to provide continuous, efficient and personalized services. In many developed countries, this transformation has advanced, but in developing countries such as Iran, it is slowed by limited budgets, lack of skilled staff and weak infrastructures. This study examines five components of smart libraries – smart technology, smart infrastructure, smart services, smart personnel and smart regulations to evaluate the smartness status of academic libraries in Kermanshah Province from the perspective of library staff.

 This research is applied research and uses a descriptive–survey design. The statistical population consisted of 50 employees working in academic libraries of Kermanshah Province, all included by census. Data were collected through the questionnaire developed by Jadhav and Shenoy (2020), which measures the five smart components on a five point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage for demographic variables and mean and standard deviation for the components) were calculated in SPSS 26. In the inferential section, a one sample t test compared the mean of each component with the theoretical midpoint of 3. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test checked normality, and according to the distribution of data, the Independent T Test, Mann–Whitney test, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis test and Pearson correlation examined relationships between smart components and demographic variables such as gender, age, education level, field of study and work experience.

 The results show that four of the five components are below the expected average level. The mean scores for smart technology, smart infrastructure, smart services and smart regulations are all significantly lower than 3, indicating weaknesses in technological equipment, physical conditions, service innovation and regulatory frameworks. Only the smart personnel component is at an average level, which suggests that staff competence and readiness are acceptable. Analysis of demographic variables reveals no significant differences in any smart component with respect to gender, field of study, education level or work experience. Age is the only distinguishing factor: employees aged 31–40 years obtain higher scores on the smart personnel component than those in the 20–30 و 41–50 age groups, while there is no significant difference between the youngest and oldest groups.

Overall, academic libraries in Kermanshah Province are still far from the desired level of smartness. Technology, infrastructure, services and regulations are in an unfavorable state, whereas only the human resources dimension has reached a moderate level. This pattern shows that although librarians and staff have basic competencies, their potential is limited by outdated infrastructures and underdeveloped governance. The lack of significant differences across most demographic variables suggests that the shortcomings are systemic rather than individual. To move toward smart academic libraries, decision makers should design a roadmap for smart library development, secure funding, prioritize scalable digital and web based services, provide targeted training for different age groups and update regulations related to data security, privacy and smart service.

Islamic digital libraries play a significant role in providing access to scientific and religious resources. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative evaluation of four selected Islamic digital libraries based on the criteria of resource quality and diversity, information updating, search and retrieval, and user interface.

This research was conducted using a survey method and comparative evaluation technique. Data were collected using a checklist developed based on reputable studies, with its validity and reliability confirmed. Four Islamic digital libraries were evaluated using this checklist and a five-point Likert scale.

The results showed that Noor Digital Library scored highest in resource quality, diversity, and information updating. In the search and retrieval criterion, Ghaemieh Digital Library ranked first. Regarding user interface, Ghaemieh, Noor, and Maktabat al-Noor libraries achieved close scores. Madreseh Feghahat Library had the lowest scores in most criteria.

The findings indicate that while the evaluated Islamic digital libraries perform well in some criteria, there is still room for improvement in areas such as information updating and service diversity. Regular evaluations and enhancement of technical and content capabilities can improve their overall performance.

IntroductionThis study aims to analyze the state of digital marketing among academic publishers in the provinces of Kurdistan, Hamedan, and Kermanshah, with the goal of proposing a suitable model.Methodology A mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, 10 academic publishers were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. In the quantitative phase, 10 managers of university presses with active websites were studied through a census method. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire, developed based on literature review and qualitative findings. Content validity was confirmed, and reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.91). Findings Qualitative data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s coding method, while quantitative data were processed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential tests (one-sample t-test and Friedman test) were applied. The results indicated that human, structural, cultural, managerial, and learning factors significantly influence digital marketing performance in academic publishing.Discussion and Conclusion According to the Friedman test, the priority of influencing factors was ranked as follows: human, structural, cultural, managerial, and educational-learning aspects. These findings provide a foundation for designing an optimized digital marketing model for university presses.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of artificial intelligence on enhancing the digital literacy skills of academic librarians, with an emphasis on the mediating role of knowledge sharing.

The research method was descriptive–survey, and in terms of purpose, it was applied. The statistical population consisted of 158 managers, heads, and administrative staff of the libraries at the University of Tehran, from whom 112 individuals were randomly selected using Cochran’s formula. Standard questionnaires were used to measure the research variables: the artificial intelligence questionnaire with 22 items (Chen et al., 2022), the digital literacy skills questionnaire with 13 items (Baro et al., 2019), and the knowledge sharing questionnaire with 10 items (Khatoon et al., 2022). The questionnaires were designed using a five-point Likert scale, and their validity was confirmed through convergent and discriminant validity.

The findings indicated a positive and significant relationship between artificial intelligence and digital literacy skills; artificial intelligence also had a positive and significant effect on knowledge sharing, and knowledge sharing showed a positive and significant relationship with digital literacy skills.

The analyses revealed that knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between artificial intelligence and digital literacy. By clarifying the link between emerging technologies and digital skills, this study contributes to the development of the library science literature and provides deeper insights into mechanisms that enhance digital competencies in academic libraries.

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the behavioral and structural consequences of implementing Internet of Things technology in academic libraries of South Khorasan Province.

The present research approach is mixed (qualitative and quantitative) and is applied in terms of purpose. The statistical sample of the first part of the research was 10 executive managers and 10 university professors related to the subject, using purposive sampling method, and the statistical population of the second part included employees of academic libraries of South Khorasan Province, which were analyzed by census method. In the first part of the research, the Delphi method was used, and the Friedman test was also used to rank the identified consequences. 

 The findings showed that improving job variables (job satisfaction and performance), increasing organizational citizenship behavior, increasing employee commitment to the organization, increasing employee skills and learning, changing organizational culture, and increasing user participation in organizational activities are behavioral outcomes, as well as access to remote library resources and services (increasing employee teleworking), saving time for users and employees, increasing focus and control in the organization, and increasing user specialization are structural outcomes of implementing IoT technology in academic libraries in South Khorasan Province. 

 Based on the ranking, it was determined that increasing job satisfaction and increasing job performance among behavioral outcomes, and accessing remote library resources and services and increasing work specialization among structural outcomes, had the highest average rank. The results of this study can help academic library managers in planning for smart service delivery and improving organizational performance.