Compelling Evidence: New Tools and Methods for Aligning Collections with the Research Mission

Abstract

Librarians at the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center evaluated citation data from clinical trials and patents as potential indicators of library collection strengths and research trends at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. These under-examined resources were of interest because of their relation to translational research, which is a central area of focus in the library's mission. Digital Science Dimensions (Dimensions) was used as a data source to capture the clinical trial and patent data as part of a collaboration between Galter Library and Dimensions. Upon completing a brief pilot using clinical trials to identify collection gaps, various analyses were applied to data for all patents that had Northwestern University as an assignee from 2008 to 2017. The findings were compared with traditional metrics such as Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources (COUNTER) compliant usage statistics and journal impact factor to identify core resources and trends unique to patents. This study is potentially of interest to libraries supporting research-intensive organizations where patents may shed new light on collection use.

Graduate students in public health predict their actual usage of different library services and resources quite accurately

“…Although electronic books were not used by most of the respondents, many predicted that they would use this resource next semester. Pastva et al (2020) researched a similar trend, primarily as related to research‐oriented health sciences centres. As SPH students delve into specific health fields, these special interests may drive their increased need for a previously under‐utilised resource.…”