Human Information Interaction

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

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

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.