Christian Gumpenberger, Martin Wieland and Juan Gorraiz
The purpose of this paper is to describe bibliometrics as an emergent field for academic libraries. There is a constant need to adapt to the ongoing changes and new demands of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe bibliometrics as an emergent field for academic libraries. There is a constant need to adapt to the ongoing changes and new demands of today's information environment, and the increasing importance of bibliometrics certainly presents a great opportunity for librarians to broaden their horizon.
Design/methodology/approach
The ideas outlined here are based on supporting information derived from literature and on practical experience gained at the Vienna University Library, Austria. A rationale is given why libraries should provide bibliometric services followed by a short overview of how the Bibliometrics Department in Vienna came into being. The focus of the paper is set on a detailed description of its practices and activities.
Findings
Bibliometrics is ideal for librarians to develop and provide innovative services for both academic and administrative university staff. In doing so they make sure to actively participate in the development of new strategies and in fostering innovation. Peer‐review is increasingly complemented by quantitative methods like bibliometrics, and librarians are predestined to fill this role and strengthen their on‐campus position. Furthermore bibliometrics is an emerging field in “Information Science”, thus librarians should make use of their experiences gained from bibliometric services provided or projects engaged in and disseminate their findings in the scientific community.
Practical implications
The case study of the Bibliometrics Department in Vienna can be useful for other academic libraries who wish to become more engaged in this field or even plan to implement according services.
Originality/value
This is an original paper, which has been presented at the QQML 2011 in Athens. It provides useful information on how an academic library can adopt bibliometrics as a core role.
Details
Keywords
Ishfaq Ahmad Palla, Arslan Sheikh and Abdul Baquee
Open access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commercial publishing model. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness, use…
Abstract
Purpose
Open access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commercial publishing model. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness, use and attitudes of the Indian students in higher educational institutions about scholarly open access.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey method was used in the study. The sample population of the study was 212 Indian students belonging to different higher educational institutions in India.
Findings
The results of the study reveal a gloomy picture about the open access (OA) awareness and use among Indian students. Unfamiliarity with the OA journals and high publication fee were the main obstacles for the students not to publish in OA journals. However, a majority of the students reported their willingness to publish in OA journals in future if the obstacles are removed. A very meager ratio of the respondents had published in OA journals so far. In addition, motivational factors for publishing in OA journals were also taken into consideration, and respondent's indicated winning research grants, great impact and higher citations as main factors to publish in OA journals.
Research limitations/implications
This study is geographically limited to the students of the higher educational institutions located in India.
Practical implications
This study will help to understand the involvement and behavior of the Indian students toward scholarly open access. The study will also guide what measures need to be taken in the take up of open access movement.
Originality/value
Institutional repositories appeared to be relatively a novel term for the respondents, and in order to get the citation advantages and higher visibility, librarians can make an effort to persuade students to publish their research work in open access journals and institutional/subject repositories. The study recommends that institutions need to take appropriate measures to inform students about the importance and overall benefits associated with using of OA platforms in their scholarly work.