Identifying and Explaining the Service Components of Libraries and Information Centers based on Information Society Criteria and Dimensions of Globalization with a Delphi Method

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the components of the 11 criteria of the information society and the 4 dimensions of globalization in the context of library and information center services, as well as to determine their relative importance from the perspective of researchers and higher education faculty members.
Method: This applied study was conducted using a qualitative approach through the Delphi method in three rounds with the participation of experts. The research population consisted of 10 professors and specialists from various universities with expertise in the information society and globalization. Purposive sampling was used for participant selection. The initial concepts were derived from a review of previous research using content analysis and were presented in an unstructured questionnaire. Following three Delphi rounds and based on controlled feedback and consensus among the experts, a structured questionnaire was developed using a five-point Likert scale ("very important", "important", "somewhat important", "less important" and "not important"). The study’s validity was established through content and face validity, and its reliability was confirmed by expert approval and response rate, ensuring that the instrument effectively addressed the research objectives. Data collected after the three Delphi rounds were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. To measure the level of agreement among panel members, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was employed, which showed improvement across the rounds. The Delphi process was concluded once a consensus was reached regarding the importance of the indicators.
Findings: After identifying 164 components across 11 criteria of the information society and 4 dimensions of globalization, the findings indicate that several factors significantly contribute to the transformation of the information landscape. Notably, providing timely services to enhance accessibility to databases scored 4.82 percent in the criterion related to the transformation of the job structure within the information industry. Additionally, facilitating the creation of local databases for national and international use through the expansion of information resources achieved a score of 4.84 percent in the criterion concerning the transformation of the job structure of the information market; providing facilities in adaptability with 4.84 percent in the criterion of the transformation of the job structure of information workers; teaching how to use the two-way communication between the user and the system through self-learning in a comprehensive manner with 4.85 percent in the criterion of the conscious social transformation of distance education; providing facilities in creating a suitable platform for people with common interests with 4.65 percent in the criterion of the conscious social transformation of remote news conferences; providing timely services in the quality of network marketing services with 4.80 percent in the criterion of the conscious social transformation of marketing through computer networks; Information services in rapid and direct communication of researchers with each other with remote monitoring with 4.65 percent in the criterion of information-based social transformation, creating an information network; training on how to use electronic communications in training efficient and skilled human resources with 4.82 percent in the criterion of information-based social transformation; providing timely services to audiences without a goal and plan with 4.70 percent in the criterion of political transformation based on passive speakers and mere consumers; information services in the acceptability and evidentiary power of electronic documents with 4.83 percent in the criterion of political transformation in formulating the law governing the exchange of information; providing facilities and opportunities in the sense of belonging to national identity with 4.80 percent in the criterion of cultural transformation in the sense of belonging to identity and the richness of true knowledge, the services of libraries and information centers have shown the highest level of importance in the information society from the perspective of researchers and higher education professors. Additionally, providing timely services to eliminate economic barriers and borders received a score of 4.70 percent in the economic dimension. Training on utilizing the cultural proximity of countries in relation to globalization scored 4.84 percent in the cultural dimension. Furthermore, timely services that promote the growth of civil society attitudes achieved a score of 4.80 percent in the socio-political dimension. Information services in education were rated at 4.65 percent, and timely educational services also received a score of 4.65 percent in the scientific and technological dimension. These factors have demonstrated the highest level of importance in the globalization of library and information center services from the perspective of higher education professors.
Conclusion: By identifying the standard components of the information society and globalization dimensions, and determining their relative importance in library and information services, this study underscores the value of aligning library service processes with these elements. Implementing these components can contribute to the integration of information and communication networks, facilitate the exchange of information, and ensure the accurate reception of content produced at the international level.