New From OCLC Research: “The Scope and Diffusion of the Scottish Presence in the Published Record”

Here’s a fascinating new paper by Brian Lavoie at OCLC Research.

From a Report Overview

Brian used WorldCat bibliographic and holdings data to identify, characterize, and track the diffusion of the Scottish presence in the published record. The report describes a repurposable, machine-processing-based methodology for identifying a country’s national presence, including materials published in the country, published by the country’s nationals, or published about the country. Scotland is employed as a case study to illustrate the methodology’s application: the salient features of the nearly two million distinct publications in the Scottish presence are discussed, along with the diffusion of these materials around the world.

 Key Findings

• A national presence in the published record is composed of materials published in or about a country or by its people

• A national presence in the published record is identifiable in library data using mainly automated processing

• The Scottish presence in the published record includes nearly two million distinct publications

• The Scottish presence in the published record is widely held in library collections around the world

• Scottish authors are especially influential in global diffusion of Scottish presence in published record

• Treasure Island may be the most globally influential Scottish work in the published record

• Tartan Noir and works about/set in Scotland are key ways Scotland is manifested in contemporary works

• The national presence in the published record is a useful concept for libraries and scholars

Direct to Full Text Report (39 pages; PDF)

Brian Lavoie Summarizes His Research

Filed under: Data Files, Journal Articles, Libraries, News