A Study of the Quality of Services of Libraries of Qom University of Medical Sciences from the Point of View of Students and Academic Members Based on LibQUAL Model

Background and Objectives: Since academic libraries have a significant role in promoting educational and research purposes of universities, therefore, assessment of the quality of services provided based on the expectations and needs of users with scientific standards, seems to be necessary. In the current research, library services of Qom University of Medical Sciences, were evaluated from the viewpoint of students and academic members based on LibQUAL Model. Methods: The present research was performed as an applied descriptive-analytical study. The statistical population included all library members of the Qom University of Medical Sciences in the first semester of the academic year 2014-2015. At the time of this study, the participants were 1464 individuals, from which, 466 subjects were selected as samples using stratified random sampling method. Data collection tool was international LibQUAL questionnaire, which its reliability and validity was confirmed in several national and international studies. Data were analyzed using t-test at 95% confidence level. Results: Based on the findings of the study, service adequacy and excellence gap was negative in the domains of control of information and library as place, and the mean level of library services in these libraries was evaluated to be less than the minimum expectations of users. Conclusion: The findings of the present research showed that showed that the libraries of the Qom University of Medical Sciences have the highest weakness in the domains of the control of information and library as place and were not able to meet the minimum expectations of their users. The gap between the received services and maximum expectations of users was also high, which indicates that the libraries of Qom University of Medical Sciences have been weak in all domains of LibQUAL