Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on bibliometric research on the activities and services offered by distance libraries that serve distance learning institutions. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis of scholarly communication has always been a valuable tool for researchers and...

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Main Author: Leonidas Papachristopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:AAOU Journal
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Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-01-2024-0006/full/pdf
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author Leonidas Papachristopoulos
author_facet Leonidas Papachristopoulos
author_sort Leonidas Papachristopoulos
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on bibliometric research on the activities and services offered by distance libraries that serve distance learning institutions. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis of scholarly communication has always been a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers in order to understand trends, gaps and patterns in a specific field. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis has been applied based on a well-known bibliometric tool called “VOSviewer.” The articles that constitute the dataset of current research were drawn from two journals: the Journal of Library Administration and the Journal of Library and Information Services in Distance Learning. Findings – The bibliometric analysis applied in distance libraries showed that the researchers in this domain are mainly introverts and need to prioritize engaging in the scientific research process over merely publishing good practices. Although there are a lot of libraries serving distance learning institutions (formal and non-formal), there is a notable lack of activity in the scientific publication field. Originality/value – Distance libraries have played a significant role in supporting distance learning, and since distance education has become more important in the educational ecosystem, the analysis of its scholarly production would provide administrators, researchers and policymakers with insights for the next era of conventional libraries.
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spelling doaj-art-517257ba669248b4910fb22096fe200c2025-08-20T02:51:18ZengEmerald PublishingAAOU Journal1858-34312414-69942024-11-0119329731210.1108/AAOUJ-01-2024-0006Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance librariesLeonidas Papachristopoulos0Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology, Ionian University, Corfu, GreecePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on bibliometric research on the activities and services offered by distance libraries that serve distance learning institutions. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis of scholarly communication has always been a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers in order to understand trends, gaps and patterns in a specific field. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis has been applied based on a well-known bibliometric tool called “VOSviewer.” The articles that constitute the dataset of current research were drawn from two journals: the Journal of Library Administration and the Journal of Library and Information Services in Distance Learning. Findings – The bibliometric analysis applied in distance libraries showed that the researchers in this domain are mainly introverts and need to prioritize engaging in the scientific research process over merely publishing good practices. Although there are a lot of libraries serving distance learning institutions (formal and non-formal), there is a notable lack of activity in the scientific publication field. Originality/value – Distance libraries have played a significant role in supporting distance learning, and since distance education has become more important in the educational ecosystem, the analysis of its scholarly production would provide administrators, researchers and policymakers with insights for the next era of conventional libraries.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-01-2024-0006/full/pdfScholarly communicationDistance learningDistance librariesBibliometricsDistance educationOpen universities
spellingShingle Leonidas Papachristopoulos
Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
AAOU Journal
Scholarly communication
Distance learning
Distance libraries
Bibliometrics
Distance education
Open universities
title Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
title_full Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
title_fullStr Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
title_full_unstemmed Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
title_short Demystifying the way libraries support distance learning: a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
title_sort demystifying the way libraries support distance learning a bibliometric analysis of scholarly communication in distance libraries
topic Scholarly communication
Distance learning
Distance libraries
Bibliometrics
Distance education
Open universities
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-01-2024-0006/full/pdf
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