Investigating the Knowledge and Use of Altmetrics by Librarians in University Libraries Affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology and the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education in Tehran

In recent years, a new form of research evaluation metrics known as altmetrics has emerged, aimed at tracking media attention, visits, downloads, and other interactions related to academic works. University libraries, which provide research assessment services to scholars, are key institutions that need to be aware of these emerging metrics. The purpose of this research is to assess the readiness of these libraries to offer these new services. To achieve the research objectives, a survey method was employed. The statistical population of this study consisted of librarians working in the central libraries of universities under the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology and the Ministry of Health in Tehran (totaling 105 individuals). The necessary data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire, which included three sections and 20 items. The findings indicate that the knowledge and use of librarians are insufficient to meet user requests, and the readiness of these institutions to provide services related to altmetrics is low. Additionally, there is no significant difference in the knowledge and use of altmetrics tools between librarians from the two ministries. Furthermore, most librarians expressed a need for training workshops to learn how to utilize altmetrics. This is the first study aimed at understanding the familiarity and use of altmetrics by librarians in Iranian university libraries. University library managers need to adopt new services for their users to remain viable and relevant to their communities. The findings of this research could serve as a wake-up call for university libraries to take quicker action in acquiring knowledge and skills related to new tools and methods.