Document Type : Original Article
Highlights
Abstract
The special function of parliamentary libraries is to create a link between science and knowledge with the legislature and in this regard, the library transfers data and information to parliament. The library is moving towards better legislation by meeting the research needs of delegates to prevent the passage of bad laws and guide delegates. The main activity of these libraries is providing justification reports, expert and specialized comments on bills, improving legislative knowledge, providing access to research reports, cooperating in drafting legislative drafts, and evaluating the effects of laws. Libraries, with their positive impact on the function of the legislature, reduce the political, social, and economic costs of legislation. This article seeks to find the elements and components of good management of parliamentary libraries in general and the method of good management of the library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in particular. Since the library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly lacks the characteristics and capabilities of successful parliamentary libraries, it is also weak in helping the legislature and has more of a museum and document center, so it must take steps to strengthen and change To reduce legislative costs and achieve efficient legislation. To try to provide a suitable model for the management of parliamentary libraries, while comparatively studying the quality of the management of parliamentary libraries in some countries and identifying its structure and characteristics, we will address the role of this institution in improving the quality of legislation. We are analyzing the Museum and Documentation Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly as the only parliamentary library in the country and as an organization and institution of scientific services. Besides pathology in areas such as functions, suggestions are present in the framework of designing a good model of good governance.
Parliamentary libraries, also to repository services and preservation of works, have the responsibility to information empowerment of specific audiences, ie representatives. This article tries to look at the status of the top parliamentary libraries in the world and a look at the structures, functions, and missions of these libraries and in terms of comparative studies and the use of successful experiences in this field in the normative, structural, and Behavior, find out how to achieve a good model of a good administration of parliamentary libraries with the aim that a good administration of a parliamentary library can be very effective in the quality of legislation and its product - the law - and to some extent Prevent a "bad law" or reduce the social, political, and economic costs of proposing or passing a law.
The mission of the Parliamentary Library is to empower and assist the legislature in carrying out its activities, and it does this by creating information resources for parliamentary actors, especially members of parliament. With these conditions, the scope of operation and the scale of services are different in different countries. Parliamentary library services vary from country to country, depending on the effectiveness and power of parliament. They sometimes set several levels of functions for parliament; These levels include the Legislature as a Signatory, the Evolving Legislature, the Informed Legislature, and the Powerful Legislature. Which of these four levels the legislature is in depends on the structure of government, the political tradition, the values, goals, and economic realities of a political system. Regardless of the level of the legislature, the Parliamentary Library is a transmitter, analyst, and synthesizer of information for the parliament that performs these tasks in proportion to the functional level of the legislature. These levels are examined in detail in the text of the article.
Structurally, parliamentary libraries are divided into three categories of affiliated, independent, and combined libraries. These structural relations of the parliamentary library with the organization of the legislature are a function of the missions that the parliament expects from that library.
The functions of parliamentary libraries are divided into several main categories; Keeping documents and meeting information; Sources of raw information, including existing books and magazines; Preparation of newspapers, magazines, and publications; also Analytical information provided to delegates in response to their request, referred to as reference services. Reference services that meet the information needs of parliament cover about two-thirds of library activities. In the continuation of the article, the relationship between the quality of the law and the use of parliamentary libraries by the deputies is examined and by describing the quality of the information provided by the librarian and the parliamentary library to the deputies against incomplete and unanalyzed information that the deputies themselves receive from other sources, It can be said that there is a direct relationship between the two and the use of a strong parliamentary library can be effective in improving the quality of the law and reducing its costs. Considering the effect that the employees of each institution have on the quality of that institution, in this article, the characteristics and duties of parliamentary librarians are also examined.
Finally, by comparative studies and studying the library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the authors concluded that the libraries of the Assembly in most parliaments are a source to meet the information needs of the parliament and even provide part of the parliamentary education and have a mediate role to produce scientific information for the deputies and other influential people functioning of the parliament. The library, with its skilled people, is considered to be the best source of information in finding and managing the information that members of parliament and their staff need to carry out their parliamentary duties. The Parliamentary Library can be a place to provide reliable and independent information to control the actions of governments, prevent corruption, abuse, and authoritarian movements. Optimal use of parliamentary libraries can have a significant impact on the quality of the law. considering major differences between the Library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Library of the Powerful Assemblies of the World and its emphasis on being a "museum and document center" and neglecting the research activities required by members, the Library of the Assembly should make changes in structure and features to Create its mission to be able to provide largest use and guidance to the delegates and get out of the public library or mere a center for keeping documents
