Evidence-based citation analysis of a health sciences journal collection

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Health Sciences Librarianship
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Evaluating health sciences journal collections is crucial for supporting academic programs.
• Previous studies often focused on single health professions, limiting a holistic view.
• A comprehensive evaluation method is needed for multi-program institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a quantitative method for evaluating journal collections in health sciences libraries.
• To assess the value and availability of library journal resources for faculty.
• To provide a framework for collection development and resource management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized citation analysis, COUNTER statistics, and interlibrary loan data.
• Analyzed journal usage across an entire health sciences college collectively.
• Compared faculty publication and citation data with library holdings.

Main Results:

• 90.5-100% of journals cited or used by faculty for publication were available in the library catalog.
• The study validated the library collection's value in supporting faculty research.
• The methodology proved effective for evaluating collections across multiple programs.

Conclusions:

• A collective quantitative evaluation of journal collections is feasible and valuable.
• The demonstrated methodology supports evidence-based collection development and budget justification.
• This approach enhances resource promotion and demonstrates library impact in health sciences institutions.