ABSTRACT
Bibliometric analysis has been used in collection assessment activities in academic and research libraries for almost a century. Primarily focused on journal collections, citation counts can identify frequently used material as manifested in the references that authors make. The availability of increasingly sophisticated tools enables the collection of extensive quantitative data, on which bibliometric analysis is based. Although the data gathered in these analyses is limited in that it cannot explain different types of use, it can provide a strong foundation for assessing collections relevant to specific user groups and subject areas. This chapter presents the case for bibliometric analysis as an effective approach to collection assessment within a particular context. A brief historical overview of the use of bibliometrics in collection assessment is followed by a description of the tools available and the skills required to perform bibliometric analysis. A step-by-step description of a bibliometric analysis designed to mirror an authentic situation is presented, with advice about considerations and potential challenges. The chapter concludes with a discussion about how bibliometric analyses might be combined with other collection assessment approaches to achieve a robust dataset on which to make informed decisions.
