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Purpose: This study aims to determine the status of the librarians' general and specialized reading at Mashhad public libraries and identify the factors which impact it.
Method: A descriptive analytical method was used as the research method.
A researcher-made questionnaire was selected as the tool for data collection.
Findings: According to the librarians, the average time they spend a day on general and specialized reading is respectively 47.77 and 29.08 minutes.
The findings showed that the librarians' interest in general reading is higher than an intermediate level while their specialized reading is lower than an average level. Increasing general information, learning to enjoy by reading, and responding to the library clients have been the most important reasons reported by the librarians for their general reading. However, the most important reasons for their specialized reading have emerged to be increasing their ability to respond to the clients, being up-to-date and active participation in scientific communities. Tiredness resulting from daily work, ineffectiveness of reading in job evaluation, and administrative rules have been the major obstacles reported by the librarians for specialized reading. Findings also indicated a significant negative correlation between
the librarians' age and their general and specialized reading.
Originality/Value: This study has documented the reading status of librarians of Mashhad public libraries and identified some existing challenges and problems. In case they are solved and systematic plans are adopted by managers, qualified librarians and information consultants may be trained for public libraries
 

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Purpose: The purpose of this research is qualitative assessment of electronic document delivery of Iran’s Astan Quds digital library according to proposed model. 
Methodology: We used survey method to reach research purpose. The statistical population of the survey included two groups: The specialists
(36 Faculties of Knowledge and information science deprtment in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Librarians that worked in Electronic Document Delivery Divisions in Central Library of Ferdowsi University and Astan Quds Library) and The Users of Astan Quds digital library. 264 users are selected as a sample with simple random sampling method. The tools of collecting data are two researcher-made questionnaires. The specialist questionnaire is designed for weighting requirements and the main and subordinate factors that are shaped the proposed model with using AHP method. 42 questions are designed in the user questionnaire for assessing subordinate factors of document delivery state.
Findings: Results showed that the ultimate score of Iran’s Astan Quds’ electronic document delivery service is upper than the middle level. This finding indicates the partly good situation of Astan Quds’ electronic document delivery service. According to users’ viewpoints and specialists` importance coefficient, the subordinate factors such as advanced search, browsing Options, spiritual right, help facilities and quality, are in the best situation and others such as flexibility, speed, making good relationship, price and processes clearness are in the end of subordinate factors` list. Results also showed that there is no correlation between assessment scores of Astan Quds electronic document delivery and the amount of this service usage. There wasn`t also difference between assessment scores of users that having experience of using other digital libraries and other users that not have this experience.
Originality/Value: We tried to examine Astan Qods’ document delivery system and viewpoints of users about that. Also, we proposed a weighted score sheet of elements to examine all document delivery systems

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Purpose: IFLA's approach is to move towards developing qualitative guidelines and examining the feasibility of implementing these guidelines in the countries using them. The present research has been conducted with a view to formulating the related qualitative guidelines and surveying the feasibility of their implementation in the context of Iran's public libraries.
Method: The current research is an applied study in terms of purpose, which applies an exploratory sequential mixed method. In the qualitative part, IFLA guidelines were investigated using the focus group method and a checklist was made in order to categorize the guidelines and to determine the evaluating groups. In this part, the research sample consisted of 5 experts in the development of Iran's standards that were selected using the purposeful sampling method. In the quantitative part, the tool for data collection was a questionnaire. In this part, the statistical population were composed of 4 groups evaluating IFLA standards in Iran's public libraries, who consisted of 80 managers and organizational specialists, 111 librarians, 21 experts, and 342 users amounting to 559 people in total. Each sample group was determined using the sampling method and Krejcie & Morgan table. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires among 4 evaluating groups. 81 questionnaires were returned by managers and organizational specialists, 110 ones by librarians, 21 ones by experts and 342 ones by users. Data analysis was carried out using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Excel and SPSS software packages were employed to calculate the frequency rates, averages and to perform the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Findings: In the qualitative part of this research, different IFLA guidelines in 12 areas of public libraries` programs and services for various classes of user community were drawn on and confirmed in the checklist of focus group. Totally, out of 12 guidelines (51 guideline statements) appraised by 4 evaluating groups, 8 guidelines can be implemented in Iran's public libraries and the remaining 4 groups can be implemented under certain conditions. The findings of the quantitative part and a comparison drawn among the 4 groups on common statements using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there is no significant difference between the views of evaluating groups, namely librarians, experts, managers and organizational specialists; However, a significant difference was found between the above-mentioned groups and users. To increase the feasibility of implementation IFLA guidelines in Iran's public libraries, some remedies are put forward, including: revising and correcting some instructions, learning about the population of users, assessing the user needs, setting up a task-force consisting of managers, librarians, experts and users to develop and regulate library activities.
Originality/value: The review of relevant literature in Iran and abroad showed that no research has already been conducted in order to codify IFLA qualitative guidelines in the field of public libraries' services and programs or to look into the feasibility of IFLA guidelines' implementation from the point of view of policy-makers and the relevant specialists. The findings of this research can help us with decision-making and policymaking in delivering implementing services and programs as well as in developing standards for public libraries.

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