Narratives Through Dialogue: Analysis of LIS Oral History Projects in National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI)

To discuss the importance of oral history projects undertaken at the NLAI for securing a deeper understanding of the history of LIS in Iran. Analysis of the narratives shows that how the morale of the pioneer Iranian professional librarians has served the development of modern librarianship in their country.

The data based on which inferences are made were extracted through careful analysis of the content of the interviews carried out in the process of six oral history projects.

The challenges faced by early Iranian professional librarians in the process of the establishment, expansion and flourishing of modern librarianship in Iran, and transition from traditional to modern librarianship were many. Personality traits like work discipline, planning, and passion for acquiring skills from American colleagues (then working in Iran as consutants and educators) were instrumental in overcoming challenges.

Findings demonstrate how oral history can shed light on less seen aspects of contemporary history. Oral history projects need to be taught in LIS education to enable students to gain a deeper insight of their profession. Documenting oral history of public, school, university and specialized libraries is important for improving social status of the profession. Also, reporting activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to strengthen the spirit of volunteer work in the fields of book, librarianship, and book reading should be on the agenda of those interested in the history of librarianship and trustees in this field to strengthen the culture of collective participation