Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate and compare the current state of information technology in medical libraries in Karnataka, India and Iran. Tools used for data collection included questionnaire, observational visits, and informal interviews with selected librarians. Although medical libraries in both countries have hardware, software, and communication facilities to some extent, they should strive to achieve excellent IT levels. A good number of libraries had library management software. However, only few medical libraries in both countries are fully automated. Iranian librarians ranked lack of institutional support, funds, trained and skilled professionals, and absence of planning and training courses, as the most important problems in IT application, while none of the options were rated as the most important problems militating against effective use of information technology by Indian medical librarians. The research compares the status of information technologies in India and Iran as developing countries and provides recommendations to promote library automation and effective application of information technology. 

Key words: Medical libraries, information technologies, library automation, internet, India, Iran.