نشریه مطالعات کتابداری و سازماندهی اطلاعات
سال سی و چهارم شماره 3 (پیاپی 135، پاییز 1402)

The current research was conducted with the aim of comparative evaluation of music recognition software in terms of musical information retrieval capabilities.

This research was an applied descriptive type and the method of doing survey-descriptive evaluative research using a cheklist. The statistical population of this research included 180 pieces of music in the two sections of Iranian music and international music, which Iranian music in four traditional, pop, orchestral and local formats, each of these four formats in two ways, with words and without words, and international music in four formats. Classical, pop, electronic and newage were reviewed. The data collection tool was a researcher-made checklist. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods of Wilcoxon and Friedman.

According to the findings of the research, Shazam software was ranked first in 5 components (response speed, accuracy in retrieving music pieces, title and similar) in various Iranian and international music formats with 36 points along with Sundhound software and Navahang software with 26 points ranked last. In terms of facilities and search capabilities and information retrieval standards, all five software had the same performance. Shazam software has performed better than other software in both Iranian and international music and in most formats of spoken and wordless music. also results showed that in the discussion of music without words, the results were weaker compared to music with words.

Coclusion: 

Due to the increase in the volume of music productions, both spoken and written, and the lack of correct and accurate bibliographic information and content, it is necessary to pay attention to the software in this field. Also, the attention and use of software for identifying and retrieving musical information based on Farsi content requires serious attention.

 This research aimed to visualize the growth of science development, scientific production, citation frequency of documents, highly cited documents, top authors, widely published journals, and significant subject categories related to documents in the field of social performance of public libraries among the countries with the most publications. Additionally, the research aim was to prepare a cooperation map and evaluate scientific productions in this field.

 According to the purpose of the research, the current research was of the scientometric and applied research kind, and in terms of data collection, it was a descriptive-analytical research type. This research implemented a quantitative approach and scientific indicators such as the centrality index, vocabulary co-occurrence analysis, and co-authorship networks. The data collected from the articles indexed in this database، after retrieving 278 records related to the research, data was analyzed based on the objectives of the research. To draw the networks and maps used in the present study، as well as data analysis، the software of HistCite، Gephi، Node XL, and VOSwiever were used.

 Findings show that scientific productions and the number of citations received in this field during the years under review had generally top and down. Highly cited articles were published in journals in the field of information science and librarianship between 2007 and 2016. All articles in this field were written by 640 authors. The highest collaboration was among 23 authors with at least two collaborations. The rest of the authors contributed to only one work whom their affiliation were the University of Pennsylvania. The Australian National University has the highest number of intermediate centers. The order of universities also varies according to the degree of centrality index or number of collaborations. The highest correlation between the two subjects is related to the subjects of public libraries and information services with a strength of 5. After that, the highest correlation is between the subjects of social media and public libraries with a correlation strength of 4. Social acceptance with public libraries with a correlation strength of 4 and public libraries with web 2 with a correlation strength of 4.

 The most common collaborations in the production of works in the field of social performance of public libraries have been between the United Kingdom and the United States، China with the United States، Australia with the United States، and the United Kingdom with Scotland، respectively. The largest joint venture between the University of Ghana with Kuwait University of Science and Technology، and the University of Illinois with Drexel University، and the rest of the universities had a joint venture. The highest percentage of international collaboration belongs to Australia and the lowest percentage of international collaboration belongs to the United States. With a deeper study of the mentioned cases, one can better understand the limitations and challenges related to the social performance of public libraries in our country and try to fix or improve it. According to the obtained results, it is suggested that Iranian researchers enter more in this field and have scientific cooperation with the authors of other countries, scientific and research centers support and encourage Iranian writers to collaborate with writers from other countries. Particularly, Asian countries should cooperate to gain a greater share in scientific cooperation between countries.

 Evaluating and measuring users' information literacy level shows the potential for improvement and effectiveness of the educational performance of public libraries. Hence, the Present research aimed to measure the level of information literacy of public library users based on the model of eight enablers. This evaluation can help plan public libraries to improve the level of knowledge and information of users.

 This research was quantitative. It was practical in terms of purpose and terms of the survey method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the model of eight enablers, including 40 questions on a Likert scale. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 20 university professors, experts, and librarians in the field of Knowledge and information science. By randomly distributing 40 questionnaires among users and collecting them using Cronbach's alpha, the reliability of the questionnaire was calculated as 0.92, the construct validity was calculated as 0.66 using confirmatory factor analysis. The statistical population of the research included 45582 active users of public libraries in Khuzestan Province in 2019. First, 497 users were selected using Cochran's formula to estimate the sample. Then, according to the user population of 21 cities of Khuzestan province, a suitable sample was assigned with the optimal assignment method. The Likert score calculation was used to estimate percentages and averages and determine users' information literacy levels. The data analysis tool was SPSS version 20. 

 The estimation of eight components of information literacy showed that the skills and abilities of public library users of Khuzestan Province in the components of "identifying knowledge and information," "exploring and searching for information," "organizing information", and "presenting and Knowledge sharing" is above average. In the components of "selection and selection of information," "creation and producing knowledge", "evaluation of knowledge and information", and "application of knowledge and information" are lower than the average. In general, the level of information literacy of users of public libraries in Khuzestan Province is higher than the average. 

 The analysis of the findings showed that the users' information literacy level in the present research is higher than the average level (54.57). However, this level does not reflect users' desired state of information literacy but indicates a distance of 45.43% to reach the desired state. Therefore, to achieve the most essential objective of their existence, which is the development of knowledge capabilities and information literacy of society, public libraries need to compile, design, and plan the development in two dimensions: users and librarians. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to use more efficient and accessible tools, information and communication technology infrastructure, and establish a borderless e-learning network emphasizing online learning, hybrid learning, and virtual learning. In this regard, redefining their traditional roles and updating their functions in line with new expectations is necessary.

 This study aimed to monitor information literacy components in the high-level higher education documents of Iranian universities and analyze the results with the elements of the information literacy framework for higher education This qualitative study was based on theoretical analyses. The research population consisted of four high-level higher education documents in Iran and the information literacy framework for higher education. The study used a checklist based on Gal's technique and qualitative and directed content analysis in NVivo. A total of 99 themes related to information literacy components were identified in the high-level documents. Based on the information literacy framework elements, these themes were classified into four categories (knowledge implementation, manifestation and reflection, self-evaluation, and possible evaluations) and two sub-categories (knowledge actions and attitudinal actions). Themes related to manifestation and reflection received the highest attention (frequency 35.35%), while the themes about self-evaluation received the least attention (frequency 13.13%) in the studied documents. The Document on the comprehensive scientific map in Iran had the most themes (n=51) related to the elements of the information literacy framework. Despite the significance of information literacy skills training to the academic community at the global level, the constructive role of these skills in empowering the audience has not received the attention it deserves in Iran's high-level higher education documents. The results of this monitoring can motivate more severe attention and explicit inclusion of the elements of the information literacy framework in Iran's high-level higher education documents. The outcome will be developing and implementing continuous programs for information literacy skills training in universities and empowering audiences based on new international guidelines and frameworks.

 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.

 The occurrence of every phenomenon is accompanied by opportunities and challenges, which recognition and understanding will lead to using the identified opportunities to overcome the existing and future challenges as much as possible and to solve them and strengthen and improve the desired phenomenon. Considering the increasing importance of smart libraries and the point that the future will be of those smart libraries, it seems it is necessary to understand and recognize the opportunities and challenges ahead. The current research seeked to identify these opportunities and challenges and provide solutions if needed.

 The present research was a review approach using qualitative content analysis and inductive methods to examine and analyze existing documents in the field of smart libraries to identify upcoming opportunities and challenges. The statistical population of the research was all the documents available and related to the subject of the smart library in citation databases like Scopus, Web Of Science, and databases like Science Direct, Springer, Wiley, Emerald, IEEE, Taylor & Francis, ProQuest, Ebsco, JSTOR, SAGE, ACM, and Eric.

 Users, librarians, data, budget, technical, cultural and social, legal and ethical issues, policies and laws, and security were the most important challenges facing smart libraries. On the other hand, opportunities included using data for evidence-based decision-making, developing improved user experience, increasing collaboration and partnership with users and local communities, developing community teaching and learning, and promoting cultural development. 

 To face challenges and take advantage of opportunities, it is necessary for smart libraries to manage all aspects of their performance and make continuous efforts to improve services and adapt to the changing needs of society. Librarians need to acquire abilities for efficient management and optimal use of technology. To face this challenge, proper education and training of librarians, upgrading their technical skills, creating awareness and facilitating the change process, and paying attention to attracting and hiring expert and experienced librarians can be helpful. Providing workshops, resources, and training courses for users to familiarize themselves with the capabilities and features of new technologies, automatic systems, and how to use smart libraries helps users acquire the necessary skills for the use of intelligent systems to obtain a smart library. Smart libraries can help compensate for their costs more by working towards partnerships and cooperation with companies, educational institutions, and other libraries. The use of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data mining for data analysis, predicting the needs and behavior of users, automating processes, and providing personalized services, helps to develop smart libraries. Research, formulation, and presentation of policies and standards for data transparency can help smart libraries in facing the challenge of data management and exploitation.