Can impact factors substitute for the results of local use studies? Findings from an Australian case study
Klaus G. Altmann
(Klaus G. Altmann is a Divisional Librarian, CSIRO Pastoral Research Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia)
G.E. Gorman
(G.E. Gorman is a Senior Lecturer, School of Communications and Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)
391
Abstract
The usefulness of impact factors as a substitute for conducting a costly local use study was investigated in an Australian university library. The results presented in this paper are consistent with the view that logical deselection decisions can be made only by using the results of a local use study. A number of reasons are advanced for why impact factors are poor predictors of local use.
Keywords
Citation
Altmann, K.G. and Gorman, G.E. (1999), "Can impact factors substitute for the results of local use studies? Findings from an Australian case study", Collection Building, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 90-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604959910265878
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited