[Bibliometrics and web use: the birth of altmetrics]

Counting citations that a research article received by other articles was the traditional bibliometric method for the evaluation of a scientific research. Citations have been used both to evaluate a scientific paper - usually in conjunction with the peer review methods - and to determine the quality of a scientific research output. The development of tools even more Web 2.0 oriented has profoundly changed the scientific communication process. In this context, many web tools have emerged including the so-called "social media" (e-i., Facebook, Twitter). Hence the need for new indicators to measure the influence of these tools on the scientific community and the emergence of alternative metrics. Altmetrics combines the traditional bibliometrics tool with the use of the web. Formulated with the purpose to measure new aspects of scientific production, these new metrics are placed in order to complement and supplement the existing indicators rather than act as their replacements.