Book: A Bridge for Communication Between Qom and Other Civilizations and Cultures
According to the correspondent of Iran’s Book News Agency (IBNA) in Qom, Mohammad Reza Soghandi, during the autumn meeting of librarians and managers of specialized libraries (MAKTA) commemorating Book Week and Librarian’s Day, explained Qom’s competitive advantage and stated: “If we want to define a competitive advantage for Qom, I believe that books can serve as the most important competitive advantage for this city, acting as a bridge for dialogue with other civilizations and cultures.”
He emphasized the necessity of planning to highlight this advantage at national and international levels and noted: “To achieve this goal, we must plan and act in areas such as story and memoir production, symbol creation, and the reproduction of ancient Iranian-Islamic traditions.”
Specialized Ethics and Education Library Resources are Specialized
Hujjat al-Islam Mohammad Hossein Sa’ed Razi also said at this meeting: “The Ethics and Education Research Institute is a comprehensive institution in the field of ethics, education, and counseling, active in three sectors: education, seminary activities, and research, having received the necessary permits from both the seminary and the Ministry of Science.”
He described the specialized Ethics and Education Library of this institute as a rich section of specialized resources and expressed hope that “the connection of this library with MAKTA will be a prelude to more and more effective collaborations.”
40 Libraries Outside the Province Have Cooperation Agreements with MAKTA
Esmaeil Rahnavard, Secretary of the Qom Association of Specialized Libraries (MAKTA), also referred to the history of MAKTA’s formation in 2014 and said: “This association grew in response to existing needs and today has cooperation agreements with 40 libraries outside the province.”
Rahnavard emphasized the role of love and interest in library activities, recalling veterans like Arabzadeh and Ashkouri as the main motivators of MAKTA’s activities, and added: “We hope to lovingly continue the path of these pioneers and take steps towards satisfying the users of specialized libraries.”
Decline in the Tradition of Report Writing in Libraries
Majid Jaliseh, a researcher and bibliographer, also stated at this meeting, referring to the valuable opportunity of Book Week: “This week is the season for libraries to flourish and a very suitable opportunity for librarians to raise public awareness.”
He criticized the decline in the tradition of report writing in libraries and added: “Providing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports containing statistics on usage, lending, and library programs was common in the past. These reports can be the basis for decision-making for future activities.”
We Have Overlooked the Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Key Library Processes
Subsequently, Seyed Mehdi Taheri, a faculty member at Allameh Tabataba’i University, addressed the topic of artificial intelligence and libraries, saying: “Efforts in this field are of two types: using general tools and teaching prompt writing to the library community.”
Referring to overlooked aspects, he clarified: “We have neglected the applications of artificial intelligence in core library processes such as organization, collection development, and services. Libraries should introduce specialized AI tools in various fields within the education sector.”
Taheri also stated: “The role of the librarian as a ‘research assistant’ has been significantly transformed through the use of these specialized tools and can greatly assist users.”
