The Cost-Benefit of Persian Books on Library and Information Sciences in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran*

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Firoozeh Zare Farashbandi 1
Parastoo Parsaei Mohammadi 2
Ehsan Geraei 3
Morteza Amraei 4
1 Assistant Professor, Library and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Lecturer, Library and Information Sciences, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran
3 Library and Information Sciences, Lorestan Directorate of Public Libraries, Lorestan, Iran
4 Medical Library and Information Sciences, Shahid Rajaee Public Libraries of Lorestan, Lorestan, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Quantitative evaluations are considered as one of the appropriate criteria in
accepting or rejecting the selection of information resources in libraries. Through these
assessments, one can evaluate how much the selected resources meet the needs of the users. The
present study aimed to review the cost-benefit analysis of the Persian books on Department of
Library and Information Sciences in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey described the current situation, evaluated how much the
books in the field of Library and Information Science are used and did a cost-benefit analysis of
these books in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahwaz. The study population
included all the Persian books related to the Library and Information Sciences at the aforesaid
university's libraries. Data collection tool was a researchers-made checklist, and the data were
collected using the Library software. Descriptive statistics and cost-benefit formula were used for
analyzing the data.
Results: Findings showed that average total cost for using each of the books once was
approximately 4589 Iranian Rial rate (IRR) which was considered to be a relatively high price.
The lowest cost for using each book once was related to those published in 2002 (2913 IRR) and
the highest cost for using each book once was related to those published in 2005 (31413 IRR).
Cost-benefit analysis of the books showed that the lowest cost-benefit was for the books related
to the "library collection" (755 IRR), then in a growing rate for books related to the "references"
(2777 IRR), "library management" (2877 IRR) and "organizing" (5693 IRR).
Conclusion: The cost-benefit analysis showed that use of each of these books every time is
expensive and is not affordable for the libraries. The Persian books related to the "library
collection" had a higher rate of use by the users than other books in the field of Library and
Information Sciences, and therefore have been more affordable.

Keywords

1. Radbaveh A. Determine the Core Journals and Study of its Cost- benefit. In: Mohseni H, editor. JSIS Research
Reports: Compendium of Applied Researvh Project Reports. Tehran: JSIS; 2001. p. 267-82. [Persian].
2. Kingma BR. The economics of information: a guide to economic and cost-benefit analysis for information
professionals. Dayani MH, Sagha Pirmard K, translators to Farsi. Mashhad: Computerized Library; 2001.
[Translated to Persian].
3. Sour Esrafeel B. A Survey on the Main Periodicals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences' Central
Library Using the cost- benefits analysis. [MSc dissertation]. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 1993.
[Persian].
4. Seridhar M.S. (1988). Is Cost Benefit Analysis Applicable to Journal use in Special Libraries? The Serial
Librarian 1988; 15(1, 2): 137- 153.
5. Parsaei Mohammadi P. Descriptive and Citation Analysis of Educational Sciences and Psychology Journal of
Ahvaz Shahid Chamran University During 1971- 2004. [MSc dissertation]. Ahvaz: Chamran University; 2006.
[Persian].
6. Hazeri Baghdadi A. Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Latin Periodicals in Yazd Shahid Sadoughi
University of Medical Sciences, Related to the First 9 Months of 1997. [MSc dissertation]. Tehran: Iran
University of Medical Sciences; 1998. [Persian].
7. Forouzi S. The correlation coefficient between price and quantity of Latin periodicals of 1993 in Tehran
University, Amir Kabir University and Elm-o-Sanat University. [MSc dissertation]. Tehran: Tarbiat Modares
University; 1995. [Persian].
8. Karimi S, Yaghoubi M, Rahimi AR, Al Mokhtar MJ. Cost – Benefit Analysis of Isfahan University of Medical
Sciences Database in 2007. Health Information Management 2008; Spring & Summer 5(1;9): 9-16.
9. Olya Dounaghi B. Determining of Cost- Benefit of Subscription databases at the Azad University of Roudehen.
Knowledge Quarterly (Library and Information Science and Information Technology) 2009; Autumn 2(6): 35-48.
10.Gittinger, J. Price. Economic analysis of agricultural projects. Translated to Farsi by Koopahi M. Tehran: Tehran
University; 1928.
11. Pakzad F. Fundamental of Evaluation and Selection of Investment Plans. Tehran: Ministry of Planning and
Budget, Center of Documentations of Economic- Social and Publications; 1986. [Persian].
12.Al Agha F. Cost- benefit Analysis in Scientific- applied Educations. In: International Seminars of Scientificapplied
Educations (Technical- Professional). Tehran: Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Scientific- applied
Educations, 2- 4 Khordad; 1994. [Persian].
Health Information Management
Volume 9, Issue 5
November and December 2012
Pages 632-645