کتابداری و اطلاعرسانی (Nov 2022)
User’s Attitudes about the Implementation of Dynamic Social Cataloging in the OPAC of National Library of Iran
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this research is to investigate the interest of the users of the National Library of Iran towards participation in cataloging or social cataloging approach, especially in assigning the subject keywords or tagging; and then implementation of dynamic social cataloging in the OPAC of the National Library of Iran.Methodology: This research is an applied and quantitative research. It has been done by survey method and researcher-made questionnaire with available sampling method from the users of National Library of Iran. In order to analyze the data in this research, the data analysis tool of the questionnaire of this research has been done with SPSS statistical software. Also, SPSS SAMPLE POWER software has been used to determine the sample population. The sample population for this research is 153 people. The reliability of the research instrument was also confirmed based on Cronbach's alpha test for the research questionnaire (0.75).Findings: According to the findings, 39.9 percent of the users have searched through the subject field and 32.7 percent of them have searched through the advanced search using the combined search method in the cataloging records of their book. Usefulness of the subject headings listed in the cataloging records of bibliographic database of the National Library of Iran is satisfactory and helps the users to find the resources they are looking for. Users of National Library of Iran tend to participate in cataloging, specially assigning subject keywords and tagging in the cataloging records and they are eligible to participate in reviews, comments and suggestions on cataloging records. 81.7 percent of users were inclined to include subject keywords in cataloging records and only 18.3 percent expressed their opposition. 83 percent of users were interested in commenting on the cataloging records, and only 17 percent expressed opposition. 56.9 percent of users use the website www.librarything.com and 88.9 percent of users wanted to dedicate a section called "My Library" to each of them and only 11.1 percent expressed their opposition. The rate of improvement of retrieval results with the help of social cataloging is higher than average "3" and is desirable and will help the users of the National Library in improving the retrieval results in finding the resources they are looking for.Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be stated that more than half of the users of the National Library of Iran are interested in participating in the cataloging of resources or social cataloging. Due to the unintentional mistakes of catalogers in cataloging, such as assigning the subject to resources, etc., it is clear that the participation and use of collective wisdom is needed, because using collective wisdom will reduce unintentional mistakes. Due to expression of user’s interest for social cataloging approach, the implementation of the dynamic social cataloging in OPAC of the National Library of Iran will greatly improve the quality of cataloging records and better retrieval of resources and more interaction with users. Combining aspects of social networks with traditional cataloging to achieve the goals of interactive OPAC or OPAC 2 will result in user satisfaction and improved retrieval results.
Keywords
