Analysis of the downward trend in document supply in pharmacology: a case study from INIST in France (part 1)

Abstract

Purpose

The article seeks to investigate the evolution of document supply of print serials.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on data from INIST‐CNRS – document supply requests and access to electronic resources – of 95 serials with JCR impact factors in pharmacology. Data were collected from 1992 to 2003.

Findings

The results distinguish four groups of serials each with a different evolution of document supply requests. Nevertheless, the overall decline from 1999 is a global phenomenon linked to growing access to online journals and there seems little likelihood of a slowdown for the next few years.

Originality/value

This is the first of three articles on a longitudinal study over 12 years on different aspects of the relationship between document supply and impact factor (citations) in pharmacology, a scientific domain with a high use of scientific information.

Citation

Boukacem‐Zeghmouri, C., Bador, P., Lafouge, T., Prost, H. and Schöpfel, J. (2006), "Analysis of the downward trend in document supply in pharmacology: a case study from INIST in France (part 1)", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641610610714768