Chapter 4. Altmetrics and the Role of Librarians

Authors

  • Robin Chin Roemer
  • Rachel Borchardt

Abstract

Chapter 4 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 51, no. 5), “Altmetrics”

Chapter 4 details a number of ways in which libraries and librarians interface with altmetrics, including use of altmetrics tools in library job functions; incorporating altmetrics into outreach, marketing, and support efforts; and personal use for research or impact statement purposes. The chapter concludes with an overview of altmetrics resources necessary to stay current within the field, concentrating on resources with a library focus.

Author Biographies

Robin Chin Roemer

Robin Chin Roemer is the instructional design & outreach services librarian at the University of Washington Libraries in Seattle, Washington. Her responsibilities include support for online learning, professional and continuing education programs, and information literacy initiatives across the UW Libraries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UCLA, a master’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara, and an MLIS from the University of Washington. Robin previously held the role of communication librarian at American University, where she worked closely with departments including journalism, film and media arts, communication studies, and public communication. She is the coauthor of the upcoming book, Meaningful Metrics: A 21st Century Librarian’s Guide to Bibliometrics, Altmetrics, and Research Impact, with her report coauthor Rachel Borchardt.

Rachel Borchardt

Rachel Borchardt is the science librarian at American University in Washington, DC. Her current job responsibilities include serving as a liaison to seven science departments, as well as responsibilities related to assessment, marketing, and research impact support within the library. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and psychology from Oberlin College, as well as an MLIS with a specialization in medical librarianship from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to her current position, she served as the biology and neuroscience and behavioral biology librarian at Emory University, and she has recently presented on the subject of altmetrics and academic libraries at several national-level venues, including the Charleston Conference and ALA Midwinter.

References

Stefanie Haustein, Multidimensional Journal Evaluation: Analyzing Scientific Periodicals beyond the Impact Factor (Boston: De Gruyter, 2012), 198–214.

Stacy Konkiel and Dave Scherer, “New Opportunities for Repositories in the Age of Altmetrics,” Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 39, no. 4 (April/May 2013): 22–26, https://asis.org/Bulletin/Apr-13/AprMay13_Konkiel_Scherer.html.

Stacy Konkiel, “Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Impactstory Advisor?” Impactstory Blog, May 5, 2014, http://blog.impactstory.org/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-an-impactstory-advisor.

Jonathan Adams, “Bibliometrics: The Citation Game,” Nature 510, no. 7506 (06/26/2014): 470–71.

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Published

2015-07-02

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 5 (2015): July

Section

Chapters