Evolution and Collaboration Structure of Library Services Research:A Scientometric Analysis of G20 Countries

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the development and collaboration structure of library services research in the G20 countries from 1989 to 2023 from a scientometric perspective. The data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and 6,756 publications were analyzed for publication trends, impact, document types, collaborations, top countries, institutions, journals, and funding agencies. The findings indicate that the number of publications has been gradually rising from 141 in 1989 to 241 in 2005. After 2005, publication growth became less consistent, while the relative growth rate gradually declined, indicating that the field had entered a more mature stage of development. Citation analysis revealed that the highest number of publications cited was in 2005, and the highest average citations per article were in 2009 and 2010. The country-level results show that the most productive countries are those that are economically advanced, with the United States as the top country in terms of research production, followed by the United Kingdom, China, Australia, and Canada. Emerging economies such as India and South Africa are also increasing their participation, mainly through international collaboration. Collaboration between the USA and China emerged as one of the strongest international research partnerships in this field. The study also highlights the important role of government funding agencies in supporting influential research. The findings provide empirical evidence to guide library services research, development, and policy planning.