Investigating Factors Affecting the Provision of Information Resources Services in the Central Libraries of Medical Sciences Universities: Voices From Iran Libraries of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Purpose: The libraries of medical sciences universities have much more diverse goals and services than can be publically conceived, so providing services related to information resources is one of the most important challenges facing these organizations.Method: The present study is an applied research based on its purpose and descriptive-analytical as regards method. The study utilized the semi-structured interview method to obtain the factors affecting the provision of health information resources services. Sampling was conducted based on a purposeful method and experts’ viewpoints. The sampling was carried out the fuzzy Delphi technique which aimed to provide a solution for the issues. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to check the factors obtained from 62 central libraries of medical sciences.Findings: In general, six types of services were determined as health information resource services in specific central libraries, including tools for exploring the online book registration network, selection tools, interlibrary loan, free educational tools, additional book publishing tests, and content evaluation. Additionally, eight factors were identified, including providing services of specialized bibliographic review by librarians, consultation services to users, dissemination and provision of selective information services on Persian and Non-Persian sources, overcoming the weaknesses of librarians without library education, increasing the diversity of medical sciences library services, utilizing new technologies to compensate for deficiencies and lack of resources, improving the social function of the library as a social institution, and offering various electronic services such as databases and digital resources. These identified factors were found to influence the provision of health information resources.Conclusion: Various factors may affect the provision of health information resources services in universities of medical sciences, most importantly improvement of the social functions of libraries.

Keywords

• information resource management
• health information resources
• library
• university
• medical sciences