A bibliometric analysis of Australia's public library adult non-fiction collections

• Published in: Information research Vol. 24; no. 3
• Main Author: Kelly, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Borås University of Borås 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Library collections; Nonfiction; Public libraries; Australia
• ISSN: 1368-1613; 1368-1613

Introduction. This paper reports on a study that sought to understand how public librarians in Australia prioritised different types of subject knowledge. Method. Collection data were sourced from the resources of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). These data were filtered by individual library to ensure only adult, English-language and non-fiction monograph titles remained. The collection data linked each title (n=2.9 million) to an OCLC Conspectus category. These data were collated to obtain a set of tiers (groups of categories with similar collection per centages) as well as a ranking of categories at individual library level and as an aggregated collection. Analysis. Using a qualitative framework developed in a pilot study, the implications of the high preponderance of materials in categories holding one per cent or more of each individual collection was assessed. Results. All collections had similar structures (tier per centages) and the categories with greatest representation in the sample were replicated in virtually all collections in very similar ways. Conclusion. Adult non-fiction print and e-book selection is highly skewed towards a small number of categories in Australian public libraries and this is evident at a structural level of analysis, not just the categorical or topical level.