Electronic books A scientometric assessment of global literature during 1993 2018

B .M. Gupta; SM Dhawan

doi:10.14429/djlit.39.5.14573

B .M. Gupta 173 Sector 15, Panchkula - 134 113, India
SM Dhawan 14 Dayanand Vihar, Delhi - 110 092, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.39.5.14573

Keywords: Keywords: E-Books, E-resources, Global publications, Bibliometrics, Scientometrics

Abstract

Purpose - This paper provides a quantitative and qualitative description of global research output in the “electronic books” published during 1993-18” based on select bibliometric indicators.

Design/Methodology/Approach - The study sourced sample data (2116 publications) from Scopus database covering period 1993-2018. The study analyzed data on a series of bibliometric measures (like average annual growth, citations per paper, international collaborative papers, relative citation index, activity index, top productive countries, organizations, authors, journals, and highly cited papers).

Findings - ‘E-books’ is fast emerging as a research topic in the domain of library and information science. Top 10 most productive countries in the subject account for 73.25% of global literature. The USA leads with 38.42% global publications share whereas other 9 of top 10 top productive countries are distant cousins contributing 1.61% to 8.74% share. United Kingdom registered the highest citation impact per paper and relative citation index (12.08 and 1.61). Bar-Ilan University, Israel was the most productive organization and H. Falk was the most productive author. Publishing Research Quarterly is the most popular journal in e-books.

Originality/value – This is the one of the comprehensive studies of its kind that provides a quantitative and qualitative description of research studies on the ‘e-books’.

Author Biographies

B .M. Gupta, 173 Sector 15, Panchkula - 134 113, India

Dr B.M. Gupta received his B.Lib.Sci, from Kurukshetra University, Associateship in Documentation from INSDOC and PhD in Library and Information Science from Karnataka University. He retired as Scientist 'G' and Emeritus Scientist from CSIR-NISTADS, Delhi. He has published more than 300 research papers mainly in the area of scientometrics in leading journals and conferences.

SM Dhawan, 14 Dayanand Vihar, Delhi - 110 092, India

Dr S.M. Dhawan received his MSc (Physics) from Sardar Patel University, MLIS from university of New York, USA, and PhD in Library Science from University of Delhi. He retired as Scientist ‘F’ from CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Delhi. He has authored several research papers, research reports covering several areas of interest in library science, library management systems and scientometrics.