Are library electronic resources providing adequate support for research? A case study of a federal university in the United Arab Emirates
| Published date | 12 August 2019 |
| Pages | 15-21 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-02-2019-0003 |
| Date | 12 August 2019 |
| Author | Lilly Hoi Sze Ho |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Collection building & management |
Are library electronic resources providing
adequate support for research? A case study of
a federal university in the United Arab Emirates
Lilly Hoi Sze Ho
Department of Library and Learning Commons, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Abstract
Purpose –Middle Eastern universities have recently been included in international rankings, driving a shift in priorities from teaching to researc h.
However, research-centric collection assessments are rarely applied in the region. The Library and Learning Commons of Zayed University has
recently completed the first phase of collection assessment for this transition. This study aims to provide an overview of how electronic resources
adequacy was measured, and correlations between utilization of resources and research output were determined. A systematic approach is
presented to assess electronic resources impact and to investigate and demonstrate the Library’s support of research output in local research and the
scholarly environment.
Design/methodology/approach –Journal article publications from 2009 to 2016 with at least one Zayed University affiliated author were
collected from Scopus, the abstract and citation database operated by Elsevier BV. Sources used within these articles were analyzed. COUNTER
usage statistics of three indicators (searches, sessions and full-text downloads) were collected from the most used electronic resources in the Library
to define the correlation between usage and research activities in the university during the assessment period.
Findings –The change in university direction toward research is apparent in the data since Fall 2014. Since then, faculty publication output grew
rapidly and was positively correlated with library resources use. Sessions and searches displayed a strong positive relationship with researc h output
while the correlation with full-text downloads was moderate. This was true for individual colleges as well as for the university as a whole,
supporting the assumption that library utilization is highly correlated with the growth of research productivity.
Practical implications –Results of this assessment were used to justify the budget allocation of Zayed University Library for supporting research
and improve the focus of collection development to better meet researchers’needs. The most important outcomes were to provide evidence-based
information to Library management for strategic planning and evaluation of their changing role in the digital age.
Originality/value –The systematic approach described has enabled Zayed University library to assess the relevance of its resources to its cha nged
focus toward research, both for the university as a whole and among the more research-productive colleges. This initial appro ach may be useful for
other libraries going through a similar transition, particularly within the region.
Keywords Middle East, Collection management, Collection development, Collection assessment methodology, Electronic resources assessment,
Zayed University
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Librarians have noted the rapid growth of electronic resources
and their impact on the futureof library collection development
for several decades (Thornton, 2000). Predictions that
electronic resources would dominate library collections were
made as early as the years 2000 to 2005, based on historical
publishing trends and an assessment of the critical issues
driving their adoption (Okerson, 2000). Three literature
reviews have emerged on the topic: Bullis and Smith (2011),
Casserly (2008) and Phillips and Williams (2004) . The latter
review highlighted the increased importance of continuous
collection assessment due to the increasing role of electronic
resources.
Library collections at Middle Eastern universities have
mostly prioritized teaching over research resources. In view of
the needs of campus researchers,Zayed University Library and
Learning Commons began a transition of their collectionfrom
a teaching to a research focus in 2016. In recent years the
Library has allocated more than 40 per cent of its operational
budget to maintain existing and acquire new Libraryresources
in all formats. Of this, 80 per cent is spent on the electronic
resources. The increasing roleof electronic resourceswas given
priority within the assessment process. Assessment is a long-
term process involving collation of a comprehensive data set of
internal and external resources, review of collection size with
respect to the university size, and collection analysis using
existing tools. This is the first comprehensiveassessment in the
relatively short lifetime of Zayed University Library.
Collections are divided into electronic resources and
monographs. Evaluation of electronic resources has taken a
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
39/1 (2020) 15–21
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-02-2019-0003]
Received 4 February 2019
Revised 1 May 2019
Accepted 8 May 2019
15
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