This experimental study used a checklist to evaluate the performance of seven search engines consisting of four Image General Search Engines (IGSEs) (namely, Google, Yahoo DuckDuckGo and Bing), and three Image Specialized Search Engines (ISSEs) (namely, Flicker, PicSearch, and GettyImages) in image retrieval. The findings indicated that the recall average of Image General Search Engines and Image Specialized Search Engines was found to be 76.32% and 24/51% with the precision average of 82/08% and 32/21%, respectively. As the results showed, Yahoo, Google and DuckDuckGo ranked at the top in image retrieval with no significant difference. However, a remarkable superiority with almost 50% difference was observed between the general and specialized image search engines. It was also found that an intense competition existed between Google, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo in image retrieval. The overall results can provide valuable insights for new search engine designers and users in choosing the appropriate search engines for image retrieval. Moreover, the results obtained through the applied equations could be used in assessing and evaluating other search tools, including search engines.

Recent developments in the information ecosystem and the changes of the knowledge organisations have resulted in a growing tendency towards a new generation of libraries. This study intends to reflect the characteristics, necessities and challenges of smart libraries using the documentary research method. In total, 78 research articles from the top 17 databases were reviewed. A total of 128 concepts were identified in different aspects, such as technology ( n = 53), services ( n = 36), people ( n = 19), management ( n = 7), space and place ( n = 9), governance ( n = 2), and moral and legal matters ( n = 2). The characteristics, necessities, reasons, challenges and obstacles of smart libraries are multidimensional, complex and varied. Smart libraries employ various technologies to facilitate the interaction between people and resources and between people and libraries, while also enabling intelligent administration. This work assists researchers, designers and librarians in how to develop and improve smart libraries.

Many organizations and businesses are using futurology to keep pace with the ever-increasing changes in the world, as the businesses and organizations need to be updated to achieve organizational and business growth and development. A review of the previous studies has shown that no systematic research has been already conducted on the future of information retrieval systems and the role of library and information science experts in the future of such systems. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted by reviewing resources, consulting experts, doing interaction analysis, and writing scenarios. The results demonstrated 13 key factors affecting the future of information retrieval systems in the form of two driving forces of social determinism and technological determinism, and four scenarios of Canopus star, Ursa major, Ursa minor, and single star. The results also showed the dominance of technology and social demand and its very important role in the future of information retrieval systems.

Purpose: According to the studies conducted in Iran, the breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer among women. This study aimed to explore the state of health information supply and demand on breast cancer among Iranian medical researchers and Iranian Web users from 2011 to 2015. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed method research is conducted in this study. In qualitative part, a focus group interview is applied to the users to identify their selected keywords searched for breast cancer in Google. The collected data are analyzed using Open Code software. In quantitative part, data are synthesized using the R software in two parts. First, users’ internet information-seeking behavior (ISB) is analyzed using the Google Trends outputs from 2011 to 2015. Second, the scientific publication behavior of Iranian breast cancer specialists are surveyed using PubMed during the period of the study. Findings: The results show that the search volume index of preferred keywords on breast cancer has increased from 4,119 in 2011 to 4,772 in 2015. Also, the findings reveal that Iranian scholars had 873 scientific papers on breast cancer in PubMed from 2011 to 2015. There was a significant and positive relationship between Iranian ISB in the Google Trends and SPB of Iranian scholars on breast cancer in PubMed. Research limitations/implications: This study investigates only the state of health information supply and demand in PubMed and Google Trends and not additional databases often used for medical studies and treatment. Originality/value: This study provides a road map for health policymakers in Iran to direct the breast cancer studies.

This study has developed a combined indicator to evaluate the performance of different search engines. Documentary analysis, survey, and evaluative methods are employed in the present study. The research was conducted in two stages. First, a combined indicator was designed to measure search engines. To this end, 72 criteria for measuring the performance of search engines were identified, out of which 22 criteria were selected. Accordingly, 10 criteria were selected in six general classes through a survey of subject matter experts. Validation of our proposed combined indicator was obtained by Delphi method and using the opinions of experts in the fields of information science and information system. Second, web search engines were evaluated based on the proposed combined indicator. The statistical population of this part of the research consisted of two categories: (1) general web search engines, and (2) general subjects. The sample size of the first category contained four search engines Yahoo, Google, DuckDuckGo, and Bing, and the second category involved 40 search terms under 10 general categories. The results showed that the combined indicator had six general criteria: (1) relevance, (2) ranking, (3) novelty ratio, (4) coverage ratio, (5) ratio of unrelated documents, and (6) proportion of duplication hits. According to this indicator, Google is at the top, followed by Bing. This study proposes a new indicator for evaluating search engine performance, which can measure the efficiency of search engines. Therefore, its use to measure the performance of search engines is recommended to researchers and search engine developers.