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Cloud computing is one of the most important topics in knowledge-based companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises with a low budget and few human resources are one of the major groups tending to use cloud computing to benefit from this technology. Several components affect the adoption of cloud in these companies, which should be evaluated before making the decision. This study aimed to identify these components and determine how much each component impacts the adoption of cloud in small and medium-sized companies. Accordingly, based on the diffusion of innovation theory and technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework as well as the previous studies, a conceptual model with twelve components was presented. Data were collected via a questionnaire using the descriptive survey method from 59 knowledge-based companies of Kerman Science and Technology Park. In this study, the "need" factor was selected as the desired state and "use" as the current state; then, the mean of the other components was compared with the mean of these two factors. The results of this study showed that based on the gap between the desired state and the current state, the employees' knowledge of cloud computing, compatibility, complexity, and security and privacy require more attention. Innovation factors, decision makers' knowledge of cloud computing, benefits, and costs have a better position than other components. Finally, factors effective in the compliance of knowledge-based companies of Kerman Science and Technology Park with cloud computing were ranked using the Vikor method. The need factor (information need), decision makers' innovation, and benefits were ranked first to third, respectively, and the complexity factor was ranked last among the indicators. Therefore, identifying the current state (not using cloud computing based on the needs or not matching with cloud) and the desired state (using cloud computing based on the needs or matching with the cloud) in knowledge-based companies, based on the criteria or factors whose usefulness was investigated in this study, can be an important step in joining these companies into the cloud, and thus bringing the benefits of this new technology to knowledge-based companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There are so many names to refer to the discipline that investigates alternative futures. futures studies, foresight, futures literacy, futures thinking, anticipation, futurism, futurology, and many others. Future studies that can also be referred to as future science seeks to analyze resources, models, and reasons of a subject's change or stability in order to develop and expand the scope of foresight, and consider different options and possibilities. Also, futures study of postulating possible, probable, and preferable futures and the worldviews that underlie them. It can be considered as a branch of the social sciences and parallel to the field of history. Futurology is the systematic, interdisciplinary and holistic study of social, technological advancement, and other environmental trends. This research aims to future-studying in public libraries and its role in their development and progress with an emphasis on the libraries covered by Iran Public Libraries Foundation. Methodology: It is among future research methods, scenario planning, road map, Landscape, modeling, simulation and Delphi. The method of research in this research is surveying and descriptive using interview and questionnaire through Delphi approach. A questionnaire was first used to collect data, and then face-to-face interviews were used with 11 people for some issues and to complete the opinions. The questionnaire was distributed among the statistical population of the research in three periods. Regarding determining the validity of the research tool, the problems in the questionnaire were identified and resolved by using the opinion of a number of experts in the field of information science. Sampling was done based on the structure of the Delphi method and data analysis was done. The reliability of the research tool was determined by Cronbach's alpha test at 0.810. Findings: Using the gained results from interviewee's findings, a series of elements which are effective on library and especially development are extracted such as: internet, digitalization, updating the library system, using librarians and experts, economic conditions, virtual reference services, serials and open access, Mass media and social networks, and Mobile phone technology. The experts believed that the presence of librarians, both now and in the future, is important and that professional librarians should also be used. Conclusion: By analyzing technological evolutions in libraries, we conclude that in future libraries, materials and informational contents in library are going toward decreasing the volume and weight. From consequence of interviewees' ideas as well as variation trend in type of libraries' resources, it can be predicted that paper resources will remain persistent beside electronic resources and each of the resources will keep its own certain users. Mostly, in this period, printed or digital resources will coexist and the libraries will be conducted based on two-type materials. For comprehensive development in public libraries, it is necessary to pay attention to all the mentioned components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to articulate the Librarians' Individual Abilities affecting on applying the social networks, as a tool for marketing, from viewpoint of librarians working at the Iranian state university libraries. This research was analytical survey research. The research community consisted of 146 librarians who are working at central libraries of 40 state universities in the capital of province affiliated to Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Data collection instrument was a researcher- made questionnaire. The findings of the research confirmed the impact of librarians' individual abilities on the usage of social networks as a marketing tool in academic libraries. Among the components, "skill for establishing a communication via a social networks" (3.34), "familiarity with social network" (3.26) and "cognitive skill for meeting users' information requirements" (3.13) had the greatest impact on using social networks as a marketing tool in academic libraries. Based on the findings of the research and outputs, we concluded that, individual abilities are among the most important success factors of academic libraries and most be defined as an important element of academic librarians' competency profile. For that, library managers and librarians are to be aware of the ever-changing conditions in academic libraries, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of individual librarians' characteristics and their job performance for effective use of social networks in library marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]