Student Use of Library-Provided Materials: Citation Analysis across Three Fields of Study and Using Local Citation Analysis for Improving Serials Collections

ABSTRACT Citation analysis provides compelling data which can be used to justify material retention or for identifying collection gaps and areas for growth. Researchers at East Carolina University reviewed nearly 23,000 citations in doctoral dissertations from three programs: education, English, and kinesiology, examining access to journals and books and the format and ages of these items. They found the library provides substantial e-journal coverage and somewhat less satisfactory monograph availability. Researchers at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs reviewed faculty publications and citations from their health sciences and nursing college and compared them with library serials holdings. Analysis showed the library had current access for the majority of journals published in and cited, and that Open Access publishing by faculty was limited and scholarly communications outreach was needed. Citation analyses could be replicated in other areas for an additional data point regarding collection gaps and opportunities for outreach and education.