Simon inger 2016 lbf presentation - how readers discover content in scholarly publications
?
1 like?405 views
Simon Inger Consulting conducted a survey of over 40,000 respondents globally to understand how readers discover scholarly publications. Some key findings included: 1) Academic search engines like A&Is are still rated the most important discovery method by academic researchers, though library discovery services are also highly rated. 2) Over half of all article downloads are of free versions, with PubMed Central being a major contributing factor. 3) Usage of table of contents alerts and social media for discovery is increasing, while search engine importance through Google Scholar is declining slightly according to the survey.
Simon inger 2016 lbf presentation - how readers discover content in scholarly publications
- 1. Simon Inger Consulting How Readers Discover Content in Scholarly Publications Simon Inger London Book Fair
- 2. http://sic.pub/discover Researcher Student Librarian PublisherSite Search Engine Library Link Server Aggregator A&I Library Web Pages Peer Link Email Alert Aggregated Article Publisher’s Article Journals Navigation
- 3. http://sic.pub/discover Survey on Reader Navigation § Mission: Gain a measure of the relative importance of all of these channels to inform publishers and information buyers § Survey of Readers following on from 2005, 2008, 2012 studies § Over 40,000 respondents globally § 18 months planning, execution, analysis
- 5. http://sic.pub/discover Limitations § It’s a survey § Survey was only in English § Survey used invitations from our supporters – not necessarily completely representative sample § Due to data privacy/data protection rules, all those invited to the survey via email will be quite highly engaged with the supporter (“opted in”)
- 6. http://sic.pub/discover Headlines – lots more in the report § A&Is show decline in search importance, but still #1 in aggregate in STEM across all sectors § Academic researchers rate library discovery as high as A&Is (in high-income countries) § Academic researchers rate Google Scholar #1 § Over half of article downloads are free versions – PubMed Central a major factor § ToC alerts in decline § Increased role for social media in discovery
- 8. http://sic.pub/discover Academic researchers rate academic search engines #1
- 9. http://sic.pub/discover Wait! § Every publisher tells you that they get way more referrals from Google than Google Scholar! – Analytics typically measure last referrer, and have not tracked where navigationstarted 3 May, 2016 9 Google Google Scholar Library Link Servers Publisher’s Article 52% 48% 48% 12% 40%, or 0.04% for 1000 link servers 40%
- 10. http://sic.pub/discover But not everywhere in the world
- 11. http://sic.pub/discover Librarians are different 3 May, 2016 11
- 12. http://sic.pub/discover Largest sector difference is medical 3 May, 2016 12
- 13. http://sic.pub/discover Country differences are significant 3 May, 2016 13
- 14. http://sic.pub/discover Over half of downloads are free!
- 15. http://sic.pub/discover With some variation by country
- 16. http://sic.pub/discover PubMed Central effect 3 May, 2016 16
- 17. http://sic.pub/discover Mobile devices 3 May, 2016 17
- 18. http://sic.pub/discover Concluding observations § Many free discovery resources, like PubMed and Google Scholar, are used less in poorer countries – awareness? § Librarians aren’t convincing their patrons about search methodology § Use of mobile devices is increasing, but smartphone use remains marginal in most territories: greatest use is in low-income countries 3 May, 2016 18
- 19. Simon Inger Consulting Thank you simon@simoningerconsulting.com http://sic.pub/discover