A digital reference desk for the National Library of Iran: A prototype based on content analysis of the digital reference desks of the world's national libraries

This survey aims to provide an appropriate prototype for the Digital Reference Desk of the National Library of Iran.

Using a content analysis method, 33 digital reference desks of the national libraries around the world which offer their services in English are examined. A checklist was used to gather data based on specialists' points of view.

The findings show that specialists suggested 21 features were important and crucial to be included in the model.

The results in the paper reveal that there is a considerable difference between the present situation of the digital reference desks studied and the optimum situation suggested by Iranian specialists.