Cross Impact Analysis of Driving Forces on the Future of Library Catalogs in Iran

To analyze the cross impact of driving forces on the Future of Library Catalogs in Iran.

This is an applied study using desk research, survey, and cross impact analysis. Cross impact analysis and MICMAC software were used to analyze the cross impact and determine key driving forces to perform mathematical calculations of the cross impact of the influential and affective variables.

The findings showed that the system was unstable. Among the variables, 3 variables were in the group of influential variables, 3 variables in the group of Relay variables, 4 variables in the group of Dependent variables, and 3 variables in the group of independent variables. Finally, four variables such as "quantity and quality of library catalogs in the virtual environment", "modification and updating of tools and standards", "library without walls", and " Interaction between library cataloging professionals and library system designers" were identified as strategic variables.

The relationships identified among the driving forces affecting the future of library catalogs in Iran indicate the importance of changing the traditional environment of catalogs and their entry into the new information environment. Attention to identified strategic forces can also drive the chain movement for future of the system.