Investigating the information literacy of librarians working in the National Library and Documentation Organization of Iran

Number of pages: 200 File Format: Not Specified File Code: 29264
Year: Not Specified University Degree: Not Specified Category: Librarianship
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  • Summary of Investigating the information literacy of librarians working in the National Library and Documentation Organization of Iran

    Master's Thesis

    Information orientation

    September 1390

    Abstract:

     

    The purpose of this research is to investigate the level of information literacy of the librarians of the Organization of Records and the National Library of Iran. Information literacy is a set of skills of recognizing the need for information, the method of finding sources, evaluating search results, combining new knowledge found with previous knowledge and creating new knowledge and using it, and paying attention to the ethical process. It is referred to in these steps. Therefore, information literacy is a set of skills that enable a person to use the set of resources competently and become a lifelong learner. Because librarians have the most contact with resources, they benefit from the concept of information literacy more. And the concept of information literacy is not unique to the field of librarianship.

    Methodology:  This research uses a quantitative approach and takes advantage of the survey-analytical method. The statistical population is 250 librarians working in the National Library and Records Organization with library and non-library education. It should be noted that no sampling was done from among the research population and the entire population was investigated. The tool of data collection is a questionnaire made by the researcher. Findings: The findings showed that librarians who graduated from the field of librarianship only in the first standard (recognizing and determining the nature and scope of information needs), have more information literacy skills than librarians who graduated from other disciplines. So that the average total scores of librarian graduates is equal to 6.51 and the average total scores of non-librarian graduates is 5.59. But in other skills, there is no difference between the two librarian and non-librarian groups. Based on the results of the present research, the information literacy skills of librarians regardless of their field of study can be stated as follows: out of 182 librarians, the average score compared (60% of the total scores) in the second standard information literacy skill is 12.6. In other words  They access the required information in an effective and efficient way. However, in other standards, there is a statistically significant difference between the average scores obtained and 60% of the maximum scores. 

     Conclusion: According to the results of the present research, it is necessary to pay more attention to increasing information literacy in the undergraduate course. Holding information literacy workshops, in-service training classes, and English language training to strengthen information literacy skills should be emphasized more. Keywords: information literacy, librarian, documents organization and national library Chapter 1: Research overview Introduction 1-1

    In our school, our book is called reading and the words of our leaders are called new words. Actually, in the third article of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, raising the level of public awareness and also strengthening the spirit of investigation and follow-up and initiative in all scientific, technical, cultural and Islamic fields are emphasized. Nowadays, in the 21st century, due to the huge amount of information, people are directed towards information management. Now that access to information and its effective use is considered a basic principle in social and professional life for all strata of society. Information literacy has a different meaning for each person. From the point of view of some experts in this field, the skills that a person needs in order to survive in the information society are called information literacy (Mariz, 1992, p. 75). effective from information­ It is required to have ­ (ALA[2], 1989)­.

    According to (Doyle [3], 1992), a person with information literacy recognizes the need for information; Recognizes that accurate and complete information is the basis of intelligent decision-making, identifies potential sources of information, designs successful search strategies, accesses information resources, including computer and other technology resources, evaluates information, organizes information for practical use, information integrates the new into the existing knowledge, uses the information for critical thinking and problem solving.

    Information literate is a person who has analytical and practical skills to formulate research questions and evaluates the results and is capable of searching and obtaining a diverse range of types of information to meet his information needs (Lenox). and Walker[4], 1993).

    According to (Shapiro and Hoggs[5], 1996), information literacy is a new free-thinking art that talks about knowing how to use computers and access information to reflect the nature of self-information and its impact on society. The set of capabilities and abilities to recognize when information is needed and when it is not. Also, the ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use the required information (Rader [6], 2000). Information literacy includes knowledge about the information needs of individuals, and the ability to define, locate, evaluate and organize and use information effectively and efficiently, a fundamental prerequisite for participating in the information society. And it is considered part of the basic human rights to learn for life (Declaration, 2003). Regardless of different views, the definitions of information literacy usually include the ability to access, evaluate and use information (Abaziri, 2017). Some consider information literacy as the ability of users to locate the required information, the most relevant information validity and its correct use to solve problems during decision-making, and some consider information literacy to be beyond computer literacy and its use, and call it multimedia literacy. (Diani, 1383).

    Equipping with information literacy skills is considered an essential principle for all sections of society, especially librarians (Rasoulabadi, 1386). In all the development programs that have been approved and implemented so far, the promotion of books and reading and dissemination of information has been emphasized. The conducted research also shows the fact that reading and information literacy is the foundation of human development in all its dimensions. Various institutions have also addressed this issue and implemented programs. At the same time, the results of many researches, especially those conducted in Iran, indicate that researchers have major problems in identifying information sources and systems, using them effectively, and accessing information (Fattahi, 2013). The dispersion and non-complementarity of these activities have reduced their effectiveness, and in principle, attention to this importance has sometimes been neglected. In order to create synergy in the development of information literacy, it is necessary for librarians, as the main employees of the information field, to be integrated with the concept of information literacy and learn how to teach it. In this research, knowledge of the existing situation can become the basis for designing a new and desirable situation.

     

     

    1-2 Statement of the problem

    In recent years, tremendous changes have occurred in all aspects of human life, including in the field of information and communication. One of these developments that is related to the production, transfer, distribution, transformation and use of information is information literacy. The term information literacy was first used in the 1970s. Zurkofsky[7] was the first person who used information literacy and defined it as follows: "There are literate people who are trained in the application of information resources for their work." (Nazari, 1384, p. 90)

    This skill has expanded tremendously with the help of new technologies. So far, several definitions of information literacy have been presented, in most of them, information literacy is defined as ‌ The meaning of ‌ the ability to adopt the behavior of information ­ It is appropriate and in order to identify the information needed to meet the information needs so that access to the desired information leads to the correct, ethical and effective use of information in society. The required information can be obtained through any channel or media that is available.

  • Contents & References of Investigating the information literacy of librarians working in the National Library and Documentation Organization of Iran

    Chapter One: Generalities of Research

    1-1 Introduction. 2

    1-2 statement of the problem. 5

    1-3 conceptual definitions of the Leh issue. 7

    1-4 The importance and necessity of conducting research. 9

    1-5 research objectives. 9

    1-5-1 The main goal of the research. 9

    1-5-2 Sub-goals of the research. 10

    1-6 basic research questions. 10

    1-7 problem variables. 11

    1-8 research hypotheses. 11

    Chapter Two: Theoretical Foundations and Research Background

    2-1 Introduction. 13

    2-2- Types of literacy. 14

    2-2-1 Multiple literacy. 15

    2-2-2 information literacy. 23

    2-2-3 Information technology literacy. 32

    2-3 History of information literacy. 35

    2-3-1 Evolution of information literacy outside of Iran. 36

    2-3-2 The evolution of Iran's information literacy. 51

    2-4 Information Literacy Standards. 54

    2-4-1 Instructions and standards of information literacy. 54

    2-5 models of information literacy. 70

    2-5-1 Bruce model. 70

    2-5-2 Problem Solving Approach: Big Six Skills Model. 70

    2-5-3 Ellis theory. 72

    2-5-4 Koolthau theory. 76

    2-5-5 information search model. 80

    2-6 Educational role of libraries 81

    2-6-1 School and university libraries. 83

    2-6-2 Specialized libraries. 84

    2-6-3 Public libraries. 85

    2-6-4 National Library. 85

    2-7 The educational role of librarians. 88

    2-8 Education of library users 90

    2-9 problems of librarians and libraries 96

    2-10 critical thinking skills. 98

    2-11 Analytical (exploratory) thinking skills 99

    2-12 The connection of information literacy with critical and exploratory thinking. 100

    2-13 Background of research outside Iran. 102

    2-14 Background of research inside Iran. 114

    2-15 summary and conclusion. 128

    Chapter Three: Research Method

    3-1 Introduction. 131

    3-2- Type and method of research. 131

    3-3- Statistical population and sampling method. 132

    3-4- Data collection tool 132

    3-5- Content validity of data collection tool 133

    3-6- Reliability. 133

    3-7- Data analysis method 134

    Chapter four: Research findings

    4-1 Introduction. 136

    4-2 research findings. 136

    4-2-1 Characteristics of respondents' gender and educational group. 136

    4-3 Investigating the level of information literacy skills. 137

    4-3-1 The state of answering information literacy questions of librarians based on their field of study. 140

    4-4 The level of skills of librarians (both librarian and non-library graduates) of the National Library in terms of understanding their information needs. 141

    4-5 The level of skills of librarians (both librarian and non-library graduates) of the National Library in terms of information search strategies. 142

    4-6 The level of skills of librarians (both library and non-library graduates) of the National Library in terms of correct use of information. 143

    4-7 The degree of conformity of the information literacy skills of the librarians of the National Library with the standards 144

    4-8 The first hypothesis. 145

    4-9 The second hypothesis. 146

    Chapter Five: Conclusion and Research Proposals

    5-1 Introduction. 148

    5-2 A summary of the findings of the demographic characteristics of the research. 149

    5-3 answers to the basic research questions. 149

    5-4 Testing research hypotheses. 152

    5-5 Conclusion. 153

    5-6 suggestions. 157

    5-6-1 Suggestion for future researches 157

    5-6-2 Suggestion to organization managers. 158

    5-6-3 suggestion to higher education 160

    5-6-4 suggestion to organization librarians. 160

    Sources and sources. 163

Investigating the information literacy of librarians working in the National Library and Documentation Organization of Iran