The Level of Compliance with Association of Academic and Research Libraries (ACRL) Distance Education Service Standards in Iranian Academic Libraries

 Given the importance of distance education, academic libraries must be prepared to support distance education services and use codified standards and criteria to evaluate their performance and improve their services. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the degree of compliance with the standards for distance education services provided by university libraries in Iran based on the standards of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). This study was a survey and applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population of this study was the managers of the libraries of Iranian comprehensive universities listed in the ranking system of universities and research institutes in Iran (2021-2022). Using the Cochran formula and simple random sampling method, the sample size of the study was calculated to be 63 libraries, of which 60 questionnaires (equivalent to 95% of the sample size) were collected after distributing the questionnaires (electronic and printed) and were used as the basis for calculation and analysis. Data collection was carried out using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the components mentioned in the distance education services standard of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) (organizational, library, and specific requirements). The validity of the research tool was also confirmed by the experts and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.  The findings showed that the status of providing distance education services by Iranian university libraries based on the standards of the Association of College and Research Libraries is at an average level in terms of organizational requirements. Also, according to library requirements, the service "periodic evaluation of the library's distance education services" is not complied with, and other services are also at an average level in this dimension. In the component of specific requirements, findings showed that the standards related to the sub-components of "financial responsibilities", "staff", "management", and "facilities and equipment" are at an average level, and the standards of the sub-components of "services", "resources", and "documentation" are complied with. In this regard, in the sub-component of facilities and equipment, only the standard of "the possibility of sending library resources by mail to international students" is not complied with in Iranian university libraries, but standards of the documentation component are complied with in all cases in Iranian university libraries. If university libraries in Iran go to be successful in providing distance education services and take fundamental steps, they must, in addition to addressing the existing deficiencies, take action to develop a comprehensive plan for providing and upgrading the level of their distance education services. Following a standard in this path can act as a roadmap and provide a framework for these services to the managers of university libraries in Iran. Also, libraries should take necessary steps to prioritize distance education services in their programs and include attention to this type of service in the library's goals and missions.