A quantitative method for measuring library user journal needs: a pilot study using CD plus MEDLINE usage statistics.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a quantitative method for measuring library user journal needs based on an analysis of bibliographic search results.


METHODS
Retrospective bibliometric comparison of citation selections generated by users in the library.


METHODS
Number of times each journal was identified by library users during multiple bibliographic search sessions.


RESULTS
Library users identified 4907 journal titles. The top 200 journal titles accounted for 55% of the library user journal needs. Of the 1380 unique titles identified, 652 were selected once.


CONCLUSIONS
Our pilot study demonstrated that analysis of bibliographic search results can be used to identify library user journal needs. Such a method could also be used to estimate user requirements for online, full-text scientific journals.
Dunn
K
K
Informatics Center, Eskind Biomedical Library Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Chisnell
C
C
Szak
S
S
Sittig
D F
DF
D015706:Bibliometrics; D016251:CD-ROM; D006801:Humans; D007990:Libraries; D016239:MEDLINE / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects