Abstract:
The aim of the present study is to investigate and compare the role of journals with
different access models (including print, database, print/database subscriptions) as well as
unsubscribed models in meeting the information needs of Shiraz University researchers.
Using a bibliometric method, the communication studies the references used in Shiraz
University scientific papers indexed by Thomson Reuter’s citation indexes (i.e. SCI,
SSCI and Arts & Humanities CI) in 2010. A vast number of scientific journals are found
to be available in Shiraz University, most of them repeatedly provided via different
models. Over 90% of the journals receive no citations from Shiraz University researchers.
The researchers generally tend to refer to unsubscribed journals as well as subscribed
database journals. However, the journals mostly referred to by Shiraz University are
found to be covered by database and print/database models. The uncitedness of a wide
range of print journals confirms the rationality of the policy of discontinuation of print
journals subscription in favor of e-collection development. It seems that the database
model performs well not only in meeting the variety of information needs of the
researchers, but also in providing the required core resources for the users. The
unsubscribed model is revealed useful merely to fulfill the variety of the users'
information needs; whereas it plays a minor role in providing the core needs of the
researchers. The print model, following the database and the print/database models, is
more or less effective in providing the core resources needed by the researchers of Shiraz
University. Since a number of the core journals of Shiraz University are available in print
model, it is suggested to renovate the subscription to the core print journals, preferably in
online format.
Machine summary:
The Role of Different Journal Access Models in Meeting the Information Needs of Shiraz University Researchers Aida Pooladian Hajar Sotudeh M.
ir Abstract The aim of the present study is to investigate and compare the role of journals with different access models (including print, database, print/database subscriptions) as well as unsubscribed models in meeting the information needs of Shiraz University researchers.
It is obvious that subscription discontinuation is itself, part of collection development policies and must be founded on users’ information needs (Mehrad & Hamdi-pour, 2001; Madison, 1991; Richards & Prelec, 1993).
Karimpur's study (2011) is among the rare instances examining the scientific references of Shiraz University researchers to determine the extent of use of print journals.
e. SCI, SSCI and arts & humanities citation index) in 2010 and thereby to determine and compare the share of different access models in meeting the information needs of the university researchers.
l39r) to the print journal collections existing at Shiraz University Libraries, implying a low compliance between information needs of the faculty members and the print journals.
The findings are also in line with those of Najafi (2002), Cheraghi (2002), Ranjbar (2002), Ahmadzadeh (2007) and Riahi Nia & Zandian (2007), revealing low levels of usage of or references to print journals and therefore less coordination of the collections provided with the information needs of their target societies.
The core journals of Shiraz University The average of references can depict the concentration of the sources meeting the information resources needed by the researchers in each model, i.