Information Use by Molecular Biologists: Implications for Library Collections and Services

Abstract

This article reports on findings from a citation analysis of publications of a group of university molecular biology faculty. The study examined the formats and disciplines of materials cited in published articles to determine the nature of information used in their research. Citations in molecular biologists’ publications are overwhelmingly to journal articles, with the largest number of citations to journals that class in biology. The specialization displays a very high level of immediacy with a citation half-life of referenced articles just over four years. Ranked lists of journals cited provide insights to support library decision-making. The authors explore implications for library information services, collection development and management, and the potential for electronic services to this population. This research provided data on a local user population and also identified a methodology that may be utilized in other settings.