The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of information literacy skills instruction on the lifelong learning readiness of users in Iranian public libraries. To this end, 30 active users of two libraries were randomly placed in control and experimental groups. Information literacy skills were taught to the experimental group over one and a half months. The results revealed that information literacy instruction led to a significant increase in readiness for self-directed learning and readiness to overcome deterrents to participation. According to the findings, information literacy skills instruction made a significant difference to the information literacy of users in Iranian public libraries. The results of this study encourage public libraries to plan for the implementation of information literacy instruction in order to make public libraries lifelong learning centres.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a general review and historical context for digitization and interdisciplinary research involving digital surrogates of historical Persian manuscripts in the National Library and Archives of Iran and similarly engaged institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores interdisciplinary aspects of Persian art, poetry, science, and philosophy, as revealed in the scrutiny of digitized manuscripts. It explores the enhancement of Persian, Iranian and Islamic cultural heritage research. It discusses benefits and concerns in conceptual contexts of library and information science literature. It references some manuscript digitization projects involving Islamic heritage, including the HARAM online manuscript service of the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI). It addresses issues of availability and access in global contexts.FindingsManuscript digitization, placed in the context of interdisciplinary research, reveals modern correlations to the interdisciplinary nature of ancient Persian arts and sciences — and to the purpose of digitization — as appropriate to an historical continuum of Persian written literacy and traditional Islamic cultural heritage.Practical implicationsFor future contexts of digital global research, research involving many interrelated fields will benefit from use of digital manuscript surrogates. Institutional cooperation will be necessary. The physical conservation of fragile materials also benefits. Historical contexts should be observed, and preserved with the materials.Originality/valueThis paper shows that interdisciplinary research in international universities, libraries, museums, archives, government agencies, and other public institutions uniquely benefits from access to digitized manuscripts. It provides contexts for solving problems of physical manuscript decay and destruction.

Since public libraries in Iran have a rich and strong intangible cultural heritage, it is important to study the capacities of these libraries. For this purpose, the method implemented for the study was the Delphi technique. The population of the study consisted of 30 experts and researchers who were selected through targeted sampling. Based on the findings of this study, the roles of Iranian public libraries were the provision of intangible cultural heritage by collecting from local areas, holding public exhibitions and re-narration of intangible cultural heritage. This study further emphasizes the application of intellectual property rights and provision of infrastructure of information technology by Iranian public libraries for the preservation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage. Concerning research findings, Iranian public libraries are considered one of the knowledge cultural centers for diversity within society that, through preservation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage, could play a significant role in promotion of the individual’s awareness.