The long tail: a usage analysis of pre-1993 print biomedical journal literature |
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| Authors: | Susan Starr Jeff Williams |
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| Institution: | Susan Starr, PhD, , Former Associate University Librarian and Director (retired); Jeff Williams, MLIS (corresponding author), , Head, Collections and Access Services, UCSD Biomedical Library, Biomedical Library 0699, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0699 |
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| Abstract: | Objective: The research analyzes usage of a major biomedical library''s pre-1993 print journal collection.Methodology: In July 2003, in preparation for a renovation and expansion project, the Biomedical Library at the University of California, San Diego, moved all of its pre-1993 journal volumes off-site, with the exception of twenty-two heavily used titles. Patrons wishing to consult one of these stored volumes could request that it be delivered to the library for their use. In the spring of 2006, an analysis was made of these requests.Results: By July of 2006, 79,827 journal volumes published in 1992 or earlier had been requested from storage. The number of requests received declined with age of publication. The usage distribution exhibited a “long tail”: 50% of the 79,827 requests were for journal volumes published before 1986. The availability of electronic access dramatically reduced the chance that corresponding print journal volumes would be requested.Conclusions: The older biomedical print journal literature appears to be of continued value to the biomedical research community. When electronic access was provided to the older literature, demand for older print volumes declined dramatically.Highlights- Analysis of requests for stored biomedical journal volumes published prior to 1993 indicates that older biomedical journal literature receives substantial use: during this 3-year study, there were nearly 80,000 requests for journal volumes published in 1992 or earlier, with half the requests for volumes published from 1986–1992 and 40% of the request for volumes published from 1970–1985. These results indicate that retaining older print volumes, or providing easy access to the older literature through electronic journals or other means, will likely be required to meet user information needs.
- Use of older journal volumes varies by title and by user population, and a small number of journal titles were responsible for most of the use.
- Requests for older print biomedical journal titles dropped significantly when electronic access became available.
Implications- Biomedical libraries should carefully consider implications of eliminating on-site access to older journal literature for users and budgets.
- Removing access to older journal literature may result in higher demand for interlibrary loan and document delivery services.
- Biomedical libraries can safely substitute reliable electronic access to older literature to meet ongoing needs for this information, thereby creating space for other purposes.
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