Is Citation Analysis Worth It: A Comparison of the Usefulness of Local Citation Analysis, Interlibrary Loan Records and Usage Statistics for Collection Development Purposes in a Special Library.

by Loree, S.

This study evaluates local citation analysis in comparison to interlibrary loan records and usage statistics as indicators for collection evaluation and development purposes in a special library setting as evidenced through a case study at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Main Library in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. More specifically, it examines how data gathered from these three tools compare as predictors for future trends in use of journals and as tools for developing parameters and guidelines for anticipatory collection development decisions in a scientific research library. Ultimately, citation analysis is the most successful in predicting the following year’s usage.