If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The aim of this paper is to prepare and propose a job description for and identify the organizational position of systems librarians in university libraries in Iran. Design/methodology/approach -The required data were collected in two ways: literature review and survey of opinions. The respondents completed a questionnaire designed by the researchers in order to specify the skills, duties, characteristics and other qualifications of the librarians in Iranian university libraries. The material covered by the questionnaire was extracted from the existing cultural and organizational structure systems librarianship texts and their recruitment advertisements. Differences between Iranian university libraries and those of developed nations are noted. The research population included all administrators and supervisors of information sections in university libraries of Iran. Findings -It was found that in Iran information sciences librarians require assistance from computer experts, since the IT training programme on offer does not meet the required standard. This has resulted in a reduced ability to perform their duties adequately, prompting the proposed survey for the purpose of producing a revised job description. Practical implications -Based on the findings of this research, a job description is formulated for systems librarians in Iranian university libraries. The job description thus presented includes: responsibilities, skills, job features, factors, tools of work, condition of work environment, intellectual capabilities required, body posture, and required technologies. Originality/value -The survey is unique in that the focus is on an Iranian systems librarian's job description based on requirements resulting from the opinions expressed by the managers and the librarians of the Iranian university libraries. Its structure therefore corresponds to the occupations widespread in Iran.

The present study aimed to investigate the most important information poverty predictors among Ahvazi citizens. This applied and correlational-descriptive study employed structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The information poverty scale and the standard questionnaires of social participation, social exclusion, technophobia, and economic capital were used to collect the data. On the next step, their reliability and validity were confirmed through using Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. The study population consisted of individuals aged 15 and above living in Ahvaz. Furthermore, the subjects were selected using a multistage random sampling technique, where 520 questionnaires were collected. The results showed a significant relationship among some factors like information poverty and education, gender, social exclusion, social participation, and ultimately, economic capital. However, the relationship between technophobia and information poverty has not been confirmed. Information poverty is a multidimensional-multifactorial phenomenon, associated with diverse factors. Due to the fact that, the relationship between variables and information poverty was confirmed; we need to minimize material poverty and social exclusion, paying attention to the educational system, and increasing social participation in society in order to reduce information poverty. This phenomenon can be in contact with information-related infrastructures, increasing the number of libraries and their resources, strengthening Internet access, and teaching information literacy. Moreover, several factors can exacerbate information poverty, some of which has been addressed in this study.