پژوهش نامه کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی
سال چهارم شماره 1 (پیاپی 7، بهار و تابستان 1393)

This research aims to investigate users’ views about the number of phases which users should go through to access information on library Websites; It attempts to investigate the depth of menu organization (or hierarchical structure of items) from the main page (Home) to related pages according to the principles of predictability and accessibility. 10 university library websites were examined by 30 MS and PhD students from different fields of sciences except library and information sciences. Based on a semi-structured questionnaire, they were interviewed during their navigation sessions and their opinions were recorded and analyzed. Results show that any increase in the depth of menu would have adverse impact on predictability and would increase the time spent to find items. We also found that more layers in the menus would lead to mis-categorization in the structure of Websites; it means that depth of menu would have adverse impact on predictability if these items do not use self-descriptive and understandable labels.

The purpose of the present study was to identify the relationship between university students’ use of online electronic resources and their self-efficacy. The research was of a descriptive-analytic type. The population of this research consisted of entire PhD candidates and MA students of Shahid Chamran University. Findings revealed that 63% of students used online electronic resources. Considering the relationships between variables, findings showed that there was a significant relationship between use of online electronic resources and the following variables: self efficacy, computer experience, access to online electronic resources, interest in learning about online electronic resources, and the number of visits to library. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy and variables such as computer experience, the amount of access to online electronic resources, interest in learning about online electronic resources, and the number of visits to library. By taking the findings into account, it is suggested that librarians together with psychologists run training courses to increase students personal and technological skills to optimize online electronic resources usage, and to increase students’ self- efficacy.

Persian Subject Headings (PSH) is a standard national tool for subject cataloguing of Persian. This research aims to identify and analyze the PSH characteristics including syntactic and relational structures. Coding agenda was developed according to the research questions and framework, and theoretical basis, especially theories of language and semantics. It is also revised by experts to fulfill the reliability. PSH (3ed edition) and two supplements (including 11233 records) and shared subject headings in the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and PSH (including 9519 records) were defined as the research population. Random sample was selected to answer some sub-questions. Findings show that %86.17 of the subject headings are in natural language and %79.87 of them are both natural and pre-coordinated. Syntactic analysis of PSH indicates that nouns (%96.1) and noun phrases (%87) are dominant. There is a significant difference between two catalogs (LCSH and PSH) in terms of language (natural or artificial), use of scope notes and Library of Congress classification number. Also a significant difference was observed between the relational structures of these two catalogs. In conclusion, it is recommended that the errors need correction and the relational structures of PSH need to be enriched.

The aim of this research was to examine the use of data island method for creating metadata records based on DCXML, MARCXML, and MARC21with indexability and visibility of element tag names in the Web search engines environment. 600 metadata records were developed in two groups (300 XML-based records as the control group with the normal structure, and 300 HTML-based records in an experimental group with special structure embedded in the tag of HTML based on the data island strategy). These records were analyzed through an experimental approach. The records of these two groups were published on two independent websites and were introduced to Google and Yahoo! search engines for indexing. Findings show that all the element tag names of the metadata records created based on the data island method relating to the experimental group indexed by Google and Yahoo! were visible in the search results. But the element tag names in the control group’s metadata records were not indexed by the search engines. Based on this study, it is possible to retrieve the metadata records by their element tag name in search engines. But the records of the control group are accessible by the element values only. The research suggests some patterns to metadata creators and end users.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the infrastructure of customer relationship management in the libraries of Shahid Chamran University and Jondishapoor University of Medical Sciences. This study is a type of descriptive-analytical study and the statistical population comprised of all librarians from Shahid Chamran University and Jondishapoor University of Medical Sciences. A sample of 54 librarians were randomly selected by simple sampling method to response to a questionnaire based on Kincaid (2003). T-Test and Freidman Test were conducted in order to analyses the data. The results showed that in the process of review and ranking of the infrastructure of customer relationship management the highest score was devoted to the process and the lowest to librarians. The paper recommends that libraries of Shahid Chamran University and Jondishapoor University of Medical sciences should pay attention to librarians who are effective in the success of customer relationship management.

In this study we aimed to determine and categorize scientists’ behavior dimensions and evidences. We reviewed different fields related to scientific behavior, scientists’ traits and science processes. A comprehensive and comparative list of concepts was extracted as an outcome of the review. Then, we categorize concepts according to behavioral psychology theories. Finally, relationships between dimensions were discussed and we developed a new conceptual model. Scientific behavior is not considered in a specific field. But, Concepts related to scientists’ thoughts and behavior are discussed in different fields such as behavioral psychology, science sociology, and research methodology. We found that the concepts can be grouped in five dimensions according to Fishbine and Ajzen's (1975) Reasoned and Planned behavior theories. Norm/Ethic Dimension is the most discussed in literature, some dimensions (e.g. knowledge structure and scientific attitude) lack researcher consideration. We found that the Five Scientific Behavior Dimensions (FSBD) are related to each other in a cyclic process and this process has a continuous, spiral development. Organizations, especially universities, which aim to train researchers can found the five dimensions as criteria for purpose identification and measuring and evaluating the results. The FSBD may inspire researchers to consider and investigate these criteria in information science.

The aim of this research was to assess the online public relations activities of libraries in world’s top universities. It also aimed to suggest a pattern for academic libraries in Iran. This research used a descriptive- analysis method. A checklist was used to collect data from university library websites in world’s top universities in the year 2011 based on Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities. Online public relations activities assessing in four indexes: communications, Advertising, Researching, and Publications. From the communications aspect, most number of libraries websites provide facilities such as comments and suggestion links, FAQ, make donations, contact the library, chat, and RSS. For the advertising aspect, most numbers of libraries organize events and ceremonies information, introducing central library, branch libraries, services, new book showcase, staff directories, publish library policies, and online exhibits. For the publications, most number of libraries use news and past news links. Based on the research findings, the majority of libraries, however, do not use the web surveys and do not analyze the received comments. We suggest a model of structural and conceptual for academic libraries in Iran.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate entrepreneurship capabilities (creativity, achievement motivation, risk-taking, need for independence, internal focus of control and tolerance for ambiguity) among the librarians of the central library Astan Qods Razavi. A descriptive method was used. Participants were 67 librarians who were selected by census method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for gathering data. Two levels of inferential and descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the data. The results showed that entrepreneurship capabilities of the librarians regarding creativity, risk-taking, achievement motivation, internal focus of control and tolerance for ambiguity were more than the mean value, but in the case of the need for independence the relevant scores were less than the mean value. The results also revealed that all the entrepreneurship capabilities had significant and positive relation with entrepreneurship. Findings also figured out no gender-wise, degree-wise and experience-wise significant difference between entrepreneurship capabilities. We suggest that librarians possess entrepreneurial capabilities; this could be a unique opportunity for policy makers in order to plan for the development of entrepreneurship in Libraries.

The aim of this study was to determine the subject coverage of research priorities in the field of library and information science. This study was a descriptive survey along with content analysis approach. Statistical population comprised 364 research priorities which were collected from various sites of organizations. Data were collected by checklists and were analyzed by the Excel software. Findings showed that topics of library science and information retrieval had the top research priority. Howerver, issues such as the information industry, bibliometrics, print and electronic resources, information management, classification, scientific communications and electronic publishing had the lowest priorities. This paper concluded that research priorities in the field of Library and Information Science had a wide coverage.

The presence of academic and professional websites on the web environment is the reason of their credits. An analysis of status of Islamic World University on the web was the main aim of this research This research used a link analysis methodology. Link analysis is one of the webometrics methods. Total links, self links and web pages of all websites were reviewed. Research population covered 173 websites of the universities of the capital cities of the Islamic countries. The results indicated that university websites of Ankara the capital of Turkey was the first one among the top 10 websites reviewed in this study. also showed that the presence of Iranian university websites was weak among other Islamic world universities.

After the advent and development computer technology, Pre- vs. Post-Coordination has been considered as an important issue in information storage and retrieval. From the 1950's to present, pros and cons comparison of keyword system and controlled vocabulary is concerned. With the review of related literature, a key question about the future of subject headings in the Third Millennium was concerned and appropriate strategies were proposed. Subject headings as a pre-coordinated system provide context, suggestibility, browsability and precision, capabilities which do not exist in post-coordinated system. Thus it can play a critical role in information organization in the Third Millennium. However, the list of subject headings has disadvantages, such as complexity of subject assignment rules, the cost of pre-coordination, and difficulty in understanding of subject strings by users, issues that should be resolved. Appropriate strategies for the future of subject headings are: more automation for subject assignment with smart technology, simplifying subject assignment rules, and developing a new search engine with new display abilities, such as ontology and information visualization.

This paper aimed at investigating the results of searching in title and URL fields carried out by professionals from three areas: Engineering, Pure Sciences and Economics in Hamedan province, Iran. The comparison of the frequency of keywords in title and URLs was also another aim of the study. Overall 90 experts from Hamedan universities from three areas who were involved in research projects were selected. They carried out advanced searches in Google with their keywords (single and multi words) limiting it to the title and URL fields. Then, they indicated the relevance of search results filling in the related checklist. Finally, the researcher classified the indicated relevance which we reported into descriptive and analytical statistics. There was a significant relationship between the quantity of keywords and conformation rate of title and URLs. An increase in keywords co-occurred with decrease in conformation rate and an increase in conformation rate between title and URL resulted in more retrieval relevance. There was also a significant difference between the three groups of experts based on the quantity of keywords and also URLs they used to search.