MELA Notes

The present study examines the impact of Noushafarin Ansari on increasing women’s cultural participation in Iran. With more than half a century of sustained professional activity, Ansari has played a significant role in articulating the concept of the social librarian and has left a lasting impact on Iran’s cultural and librarianship landscape. Through her positions as a faculty member and head of the Department of Library and Information Science at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran; secretary and board member of the Children’s Book Council; member of the governing council of the House of Children’s Librarians and Reading Promotion; Iranian representative of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY); and member of the editorial board of the Encyclopedia for Children and Young Adults, she has profoundly influenced reading culture, the community of librarians, and women’s cultural participation in Iran.

The main objective of the present study is to analyze the ways in which Ansari’s activities and approaches have contributed to women’s empowerment and the expansion of their participation in librarianship, education, and cultural initiatives. The central research question asks how Noushafarin Ansari has facilitated women’s engagement in cultural activities.

This study adopts a qualitative approach and employs interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a number of Ansari’s students and colleagues and were analyzed using thematic content analysis through three stages of open, axial, and selective coding.

The findings indicate that Ansari has played a central role in empowering women. By serving as a role model and supporting women’s presence in scientific and cultural spheres, she has contributed to strengthening their self-confidence. Through participatory management, she has also created environments in which women are able to develop a sense of identity and play active roles within institutions such as the Children’s Book Council and the House of Children’s Librarians and Reading Promotion.

The results of the study demonstrate that Ansari functions as an inspiring intellectual guide for women—one whose influence is not limited to a particular period and continues to inspire new generations. Her legacy in advancing women’s cultural participation extends beyond the field of librarianship and presents a comprehensive model linking knowledge, culture, and social justice.