Scholarly Engineering Journals in Iran: From Readers to Authors

Library Herald Year : 2009, Volume : 47, Issue : 2 First page : ( 104) Last page : ( 112) Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Scholarly Engineering Journals in Iran: From Readers to Authors

Zandian Fatemeh1, Ph D., Assistant Professor of LIS, Riahinia Nosrat2, Ph D., Associate Professor of LIS 1Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. 2Tarbiat Moallem University, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: sara_purriahi@yahoo.com.

Abstract Background Scholarly engineering journals in Iran were examined and their status were surveyed.

Method The journals were selected from a list prepared by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Research of Iran (available at http://www.mstr.ir.). For collecting data, authors-made questionnaire were mailed out to the editors of the journals. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive statistical techniques using Excel.

Objectives To obtain the engineering scholarly journals’ status for their readers and authors combination, to obtain the advisory boards condition and their evaluation process, to assess the journals’ condition to join to international indices like ISI.

Results Findings showed that the major engineering journals were affiliated to universities, professional associations, and ministries. The produced journals were weak in attracting international readers and contributors and that was because of their kind of evaluation processes and distribution policies-they did not use of digital environment. The study showed that the submitted manuscripts’ evaluation process always takes a long time even if when the number of advisory boards grows; however, the manuscripts were being carefully and critically evaluated. Online access to journals were limited 26 journals (out of 57) which were accessed through the university formal website.

Conclusion The journals should recruit helpful advisory boards to reduce the time of evaluation process. Many of studied journals were not current and had not international advisory boards caused to internationally absence of intention.

Keywords Scholarly Engineering Journals, Publication Status, Online Access, Advisory Boards.