Z. Bigdeli; O. Abdollahi; M. Aramesh
Abstract
The present study attempted to survey the viewpoints of the faculty members of Shahid Chamran University on the importance and use of scientific journals. It also attempted to investigate their viewpoints concerning the substitution of the printed journals by the electronic ones. No attempt was made ...
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The present study attempted to survey the viewpoints of the faculty members of Shahid Chamran University on the importance and use of scientific journals. It also attempted to investigate their viewpoints concerning the substitution of the printed journals by the electronic ones. No attempt was made at sampling; all the 469 faculty members (the whole population) received a copy of the researcher-made questionnaire, 384 of whom completed and returned their copies. The results showed that 75% of the respondents believed that printed scientific journals and 80% believed that electronic journals help them improve their knowledge and stay up-to-date. Nevertheless, 44% of respondents believed that the printed journals available in libraries and 67% believed that the electronic journals available online satisfy their information needs. The results also revealed that while” departments” affect use of the journals, gender, type of degree, academic rank, and the years of teaching experience do not. Although the majority of respondents are against the reduction of book budget in favor of increasing the journal budget, 76% of them suggest an increase in the number of printed and electronic journals.
Z. Bigdeli; N. YousefAgoli
Abstract
This research attempted to investigate the information needs and information- seeking behavior of experts at Sugarcane and By-Products Development Company, Khuzestan Province, to suggest ways of meeting these needs. The study also considered motivations to seek information, subjects sought, use of information ...
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This research attempted to investigate the information needs and information- seeking behavior of experts at Sugarcane and By-Products Development Company, Khuzestan Province, to suggest ways of meeting these needs. The study also considered motivations to seek information, subjects sought, use of information resources, ways and channels of information- seeking, and the barriers to accessing information. The research is a descriptive (survey type) study, using a questionnaire with 28 items to collect data. Of the 250 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 158 were completed and returned, thus yielding a response rate of 63.2 percent. Descriptive statistics as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test were applied to analyse the findings of the study. The results of the study revealed that there are significant differences among experts in various departments and sites of the company in terms of information- seeking behavior. The results also showed that experts seek information to upgrade their knowledge, to use new technologies, and to update their general information. Experts mostly study in the fields of agriculture, accounting, civil and electrical engineering, respectively. The pattern of using information sources is as follows: Persian books (59.2%), Persian journals (51.9%), English books (41.1%), printed technical records and reports (41.1%), plans (37.3%), English journals (36.7%), theses (34.2%), CDs (27.8%), and floppies (24.1%). Among information channels, experts consult with friends and colleagues (72.7%), participate in conferences and seminars (44.3%). But among formal channels, they prefer to use personal libraries (62.2%) and Sugarcane Scientific and Technical Information Center (55.1%). However, use of agricultural databanks stands at the lowest rate (1.9%). Experts also prefer to browse book-shelves and refer to the librarians rather than use library catalogs independently. It was also revealed that 84.8% of experts depend on the Sugarcane Scientific and Technical Information Center for their research, although most of them use the library only once in more than a month. The barriers to use the Sugarcane Scientific and Technical Information Center effectively are: poor library collection, long daily working hours, long distance between the Sugarcane Scientific and Technical Information Center and the plants, and time constrain.
Z. Bigdeli; E. Jamshidipur
Abstract
This study attempts to investigate the use of foreign journals by graduate students at Shahid Chamran and Medical Sciences Universities of Ahvaz libraries. It also tries to find out why students use other university libraries to meet their information needs. This study also attempts to determine the ...
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This study attempts to investigate the use of foreign journals by graduate students at Shahid Chamran and Medical Sciences Universities of Ahvaz libraries. It also tries to find out why students use other university libraries to meet their information needs. This study also attempts to determine the problems of graduate students at Shahid Chamran and Medical Sciences Universities of Ahvaz in obtaining foreign scientific articles. The population of this study comprised of 1800 graduate students at the two universities of which 68 were randomly selected as the sample. Based on the results of the study, the most important problems of students in this regard are respectively, as follows: Inadequate printed resources, lack of proper computer facilities, lack of relevant abstract and index journals, time constraints, unfamiliarity with the ways of accessing information resources, restrict library regulations, and inability in using the present resources and facilities.
Z. Bigdeli,
Abstract
Due to the ever-increasing amount of publications throughout the world the late 20th century has been called the ‘information era”. Development is based on research and research mainly depends on access to information. Due to a variety of problems, deVeloping countries’ contribution ...
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Due to the ever-increasing amount of publications throughout the world the late 20th century has been called the ‘information era”. Development is based on research and research mainly depends on access to information. Due to a variety of problems, deVeloping countries’ contribution to the production of scientific and technical publications is trivial. Developing countries encounter many problems in meeting their information needs; among these problems, inadequate skilled personnel, lack of information infra-structure, lack of fund and language problems are of significance. However, the attitudes of governing bodies of these countries play a vital role in this respect. Due to the importance as well as the wide range of these barriers, developing countries must devise short-term and long-term plans. This article attempts to discuss the present situation of developing countries in terms of diffusion and dissemination of information and finally suggest how to solve the existing problems
