A Plan proposed to establish an Information Network for Public Libraries under Coverage of Cultural and Art Organization of Tehran Municipality

The current research tries to investigate the information infrastructure of public libraries under coverage of cultural and art organization of Tehran municipality, as well as suggesting a plan for establishing an information network in these libraries in order to form regular relationships and mutual collaboration among them. The present research has been carried out in two stages. The first stage is assigned to studying current status of public libraries under coverage of cultural and art organization of Tehran municipality. Results of the research indicate that 55.7 percent of people working in the libraries under study have certificate in librarianship, while the rest do not. In addition, more than two third of these libraries are encountered with inappropriate collection development, shortage of resources, shortage of space and human resources, lack of budget, and lack of computer facilities and equipments. However, 95 percent of them agree with network establishment and use of its advantages and capabilities. At the second stage after investigating the status of libraries, an information network is suggested with the purpose of improving their current status and forming mutual relationships in regular and coordinated way in form of network collaborations among the mentioned libraries. The proposed network is of combinational morphology, such that some activities like bibliographic control, current notification services, supplying expert human resource, computer equipments and facilities, communication with internal and external networks, preparation and approval of standards and protocols through the network core (office of book and libraries affairs) are performed in centralized way. On the other hand, other services such as providing resources, connection to other libraries, training the clients, and reference services are provided in semi-centralized way via main centers and other libraries under study. In addition, suggestion are finally made such as providing expert human resource, supplying the required budget for providing and equipment of libraries to electronic tools an facilities, providing softwares, and communication with internal and external networks so as to develop the network and its services as well as improving the current status of these libraries.