Human Information Interaction

Reflection of Knowledge and Information Science’s News in the Press: A Case Study of Iran Newspaper

Yazdan Mansourian

Background and Aim: The present study aims to explore the coverage and reflection of Knowledge and Information Science news in the Iranian press. Iran Newspaper which is one of the main public newspapers in the country has been selected as the case for this study.

Method: This study used content analysis as its research methodology and adopted an inductive approach in data analysis. All the pages of this newspaper during a year (from March 2011 to March 2012), were downloaded from the newspaper website and their contents were inductively analyzed to identify Knowledge and Information Science related news.

Results: Iran Newspaper, as one of the most well-known and public press in the country, has covered the Knowledge and Information Science news with a reasonable coverage and comprehensiveness. However, the reports are mainly descriptive with less analytic perspective and there is a gap for more analytical news. The collected data were categorized into seven categories and all the concepts and subcategories were presented in the tables. The main identified categories in this study include: Tehran International Book events, other book exhibitions and cultural events, meetings and book awards, reflection of the news related to book and publication industry, scientometrics, reading and its promotion and hinders.

Conclusion: There is a gap of the news from ILISA (Iranian Library and Information Science Association) and also popular notes written by Knowledge and Information Science scholars, librarians and Knowledge and Information Science students. As a result it seems ILISA could be more active in publishing its news and use popular press to introduce this area to the public and promotes its activities in the public domains.

Investigating the Extent of Correspondence between the Persian Book Final Indices and ISO 999 and B.S. 3700 Standards: The Case of the Field of Library and Information Sciences

Zeynab Ebrahimi-Milajerd

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of observing the standards of indexing (ISO 999-1996, BS 3700) of Library and Information Sciences books.

Method: The study used descriptive-analytical methodology and the population consisted of all the Persian books, written and translated, in the field of Library and Information Sciences published from 2006 to 2012 with the back-of-book index. To collect the data, a checklist based on the indexing standards of ISO 1996-999 and B.S. 3700 was used.

Results: The findings indicated that among the 424 books studied, 26% had index, while 71% lacks it. Overall, the extent of observing the evaluation criteria in the book indices in the field of Library and Information Sciences was 56%.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the extent of providing the index for the books in the field of Library and Information Sciences has a relatively optimal condition compared with those in other fields. However, considering the purposes and applications of the field of Library and Information Sciences, the standards in the indices have been poorly observed. Time-consuming nature of indexing, lack of time and accelerating pace of publishing and offering books, economic issues, lack of expert human resources, and lack of enough knowledge about the significance of index are some of the obstacles for preparing the index for the books.

Investigating the Relationship between Social Capital and Knowledge Sharing at Iran’s National Information Centers

Mohammad Hassanzade

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing at national information centers in Iran.

Method: This applied research was carried out using two questionnaires and a checklist. Data were collected from all the managers, but stratified random sample of staff members of three: main national information centers (National library, Regional Information Center of Science and Technology [RICEST], and Iranian Institute for Information Science and Technology).

Results: research findings indicated that: A) from managers point of view, lowest relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing belonged to the national library. But results gained from staff members credited the lowest situation to the RICEST; B) all of three information centers coined low range of knowledge sharing, therein, National Library with mean 2.17 out of 5 was the tallest among others; C) National Library was the highest among other centers regarding three dimensions (Relations, Trust and Shared norms) of social capital; D) Relationship between knowledge sharing and trust in all three institutes was significant But in Iranian Institute for Information science and Technology the relationship was more outstanding than others; and E) there was significant relationship between shared norms and knowledge sharing in all institutes.

Conclusion: In order for the National Information centers to improve the knowledge sharing culture among their staff members they should internalize mutual trust, provide them with shared norms and improve organizational communication

The State of Online Social networking among Library and Information Sciences Students

Maryam Sarafzadeh

Background and Aim: The present paper discusses results of a study which aimed to explore the knowledge and use of Online social networking by MLIS students in Iran and to explore their perceptions of using that technology for academic and professional purposes, and challenges they face for using them.

Method: The research method was explorative and empirical. Data was collected through a web-based survey questionnaire containing both open and close ended question. The link of questionnaire was emailed to MLIS students in Tehran. 113 students completed the questionnaire.

Results: The results show that 35 percent of respondents were not users of SNS. Internet filtering in Iran was identified as the major barrier on using SNS by MLIS students. Negative perceptions toward SNSs were identified as another big barrier for using SNSs by MLIS students. 22% of respondents felt that social networking would waste their time and some 14% saw on benefit on online social networking. 36% of respondents trusted very little to information released in SNSs. MLIS students were not sophisticated users of social networking sites. They have good level of skills on basic features of social networking sites. However, in more advanced features of SNSs such as privacy settings their skills seemed limited. Respondents to the questionnaire showed positive feedback on using SNS for academic and professional purposes.

Conclusion: There are several advantages for integrating SNS in LIS education. Preparing students for employing those technologies on their work places upon their graduation; increasing the employability of LIS students; reaping the educational benefits that SNSs offer and preparing students to teach social networking literacy competencies to others are some of the advantages of incorporating SNSs into LIS education. Authors suggest that skills to master online social networking must be taught in LIS education

Investigation on Full-Text Databases Cited in LIS

Fatemeh Zandian

Background and Aim: The main objective of this research was to investigate the use of full-text databases in the LIS theses of Tehran State Universities within the years 2005 and 2009.

Method: For this purpose, the total of 9952 citations related to 172 existing theses in the academic central libraries were studied. The data collected were analyzed by the bibliometrics and citation analysis methods.

Results: The results showed that only 499 (5.01%) out of the total of 9952 citations were of full-text databases. By the use of Bradford law, the Emerald, Iran Doc. Pro Quest and Science Direct were chosen as the core databases in LIS. There was no statistically significance difference in the use of full-text databases with regard to database, university and subject. Citing the linguistic distribution of full-text data showed that most citations were in English language. Finally, the amount of the use of full-text databases by the theses has not been increased between the years 2005 and 2009.

Conclusion: The results obtained in the present research showed that the use of databases was very low and no growing trend for citing databases did show. Also English language was Dominant language in citing databases

Review and comparison of User Interface Characteristics of (Springer, Elsevier, Ebsco, ISI(WOS) and Ovid) as Perceived by University of Tehran Users

Fatima Fahimnia

Background and Aim: The present investigation intends to compare and review various user interfaces from user standpoint and to ascertain its linkage with user satisfaction.

Method: The research incorporated a descriptive survey of University of Tehran graduate student body. Using a targeted sampling, graduate students from the faculties of chemistry and Biology were selected. The instruments used were: A researcher-constructed questionnaire based on Nielsen’s 10 component model; and QUIS user satisfaction questionnaire. Each database UI were evaluated based on five indicators of general features, search features, retrieval features, display features and user-friendliness.

Results: Findings indicated that with an average of 3.88 the Elsevier database had the highest score. Users surveyed believed that the quality of user interface was in better shape than other UI. One should note that this advantage is not indicative of overall database quality and the relatively better interaction on the part of users could be ascribed to their familiarity with the said database and its resource location process.

Conclusion: The main purpose of designing and developing a database is to accruing user satisfaction in search and retrieval process. Hence User satisfaction directly connected to user interface

Survey the Opinion of Blind and Visually Impaired on Incorporating Gadgets in Providing Information Services and Resources to Them

Asefeh Asemi

Background and Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the opinion of blind and visually impaired of the possibility of employing gadgets in delivering resources and information services to them.

Method: The research method was descriptive - survey and questionnaires were used to collect data. The data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The result showed that respondent approved the use of information resources and services through variety of gadgets and the fact that gadgets are generally more desirable. Based on the agreement in regard to the gadgets used as resources and information services to blind and visually impaired it was found that mobile phone and pocket PC were in the first place (56.7%), Google glasses in second place(55%) e-book readers in third place (54.4%), tablets in fourth place (54.2%) and RFID systems in fifth place (44.1%).

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study it is concluded that blinds ability to use gadgets in optimal utilization of resources and information services is possible and more than desirable. As a results we can make proper use of the new technology in order to present resources and information services to blinds and visually impaired