Uso da informação e adequação da coleção de periódicos: estudo aplicado ao Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares

Abstract

The citations from journal articles, contributions to conferences and technical reports published by the researchers of the Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN) as well as the data collected on in-house use of periodicals, period of 1973 to 1980, was analysed in order to verify the adequacy of the periodicals collection to the information needs of IPEN community. This study revealed that from citations to periodicals, IPEN Library owned 70 per cent of the cited periodicals articles, a fairly strong percentage. This result, besides proving the adequacy of IPEN periodicals collection, suggests that the behavior of IPEN researchers, while choosing the sources of citations, do not take into account the publication where the article will be published. The periodicals cited and used were ordered according to Bradford's law in order to determine the most cited and used periodicals. In addition, this analysis showed that 20 per cent of the periodicals were responsible for 70 per cent of the citations and uses. By comparing lists of periodicals ranked by citation counting with lists od periodicals ranked according to frequency of use, it was found that the rank order correlation was only reasonable. Citation studies proved to be a reliable use indicator, though partial, since a significative parcel of used material was not cited. It was also found that studies such as citation analysis, circulation and other evaluation methods must be performed to formulate guidelines for selection in order to determine journal acquisition policies. In conclusion, and considered under the variable of use, IPEN periodicals collection was estimated to be adequate to the information needs of its community.