Assessing the alignment of university library collections with scholarly research outputs: UW-Madison case study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the alignment between the university library's resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the research outputs from the scholars affiliated with the university. By comparing citations in university publications with the library collections, the authors seek to quantify the degree to which the library supports academic research at the university. This analysis involves extracting citations from research outputs, and compares the citations with library collections to reveal any overlaps and gaps. This study relies on data from popular bibliographic databases such as Web of Science (WoS), and the library bibliographic records. The project's merit lies in providing evidence-based insights for library collection management, enhancing support for academic research, and optimizing resource allocations in university libraries. Findings will inform strategic decisions in collection development, ensuring resources are closely aligned with the university's research needs. This endeavor will not only improve library services but also contribute to the broader scholarly communication field, offering a replicable model for similar assessment at other institutions.