Research Article: “Publication Trends in Library Reserves: A Quantitative Content Analysis”

The purpose of this study is to investigate the peer-reviewed literature on library reserves in post-secondary institutions and to identify publication trends over time. The study analyzes library literature in a systematic way to provide statistical insight into publishing trends, including publication frequency and topic shifts about library reserves. Investigating such trends provides information about how culture has changed over time and provides a reference point for future studies.
This study defines library reserves as content set aside or gathered in conjunction with the library for a particular course offered at a post- secondary institution. Library reserves content exists in a variety of formats, including physical copies of textbooks, digital book excerpts, DVDs, persistent links, and many other formats or file types.