Bibliotektäckning

Bibliotektäckning refers to the extent to which a library's collection covers a particular subject area. It assesses how comprehensive and deep the library's holdings are in relation to the known body of literature on a specific topic. This concept is crucial for collection development librarians and researchers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a library's resources.

Several factors contribute to bibliotektäckning, including the number of items held, the publication dates of those items, the variety of formats available (e.g., books, journals, databases, multimedia), and the inclusion of both core and peripheral materials. A high level of bibliotektäckning means the library possesses a wide range of materials on the subject, from foundational texts to the latest research.

Evaluating bibliotektäckning can be done through various methods. Subject specialists may manually review the collection against standard bibliographies or syllabi. Quantitative measures, such as the number of citations to a subject in scholarly works that are held by the library, can also be used. Alternatively, citation analysis can reveal how often materials within a subject are cited by other works, indicating their importance and potential coverage.

Understanding bibliotektäckning helps libraries make informed decisions about acquisitions, weeding, and interlibrary loan services. It also assists users in determining if a library is likely to meet their research needs for a particular subject. A library with strong bibliotektäckning in a specific area is a valuable resource for in-depth study and research.