Bibliometric Analysis of the Russian Journal of Library Science “Bibliotekovedenie” and Foreign Journals in Library Science: Search for Professional Discourse

Abstract

The article reflects the main results of comparative bibliometric analysis of the scientific-practical Russian Journal of Library Science “Bibliotekovedenie” and foreign journals in the library sphere. The purpose of the study is to determine the growth points and development directions of the Russian Journal of Library Science for the formation of international scientific communication practices and professional discourse.The object of the research was metadata array of fourteen foreign English-language library journals included in the international scientometric databases Scopus and Web of Science, and the journal “Bibliotekovedenie” for 2015—2019. The authors used content analysis method, the method of comparison and correlation, as well as criterion method based on determination of relevant indicators and development of criteria for evaluating journals to identify parameters of similarity and difference, followed by the use of method of data interpretation based on modern cultural-philosophical and cultural-theoretical principles and concepts.As a result, the study identified the typical topics for the most frequently cited articles in the foreign journals. The authors show that the journal “Bibliotekovedenie” publishes the articles that can be attributed to most of the presented topics. However, most often they are characterized by another emphasis, presentation style and structure of the text, as well as approaches to conducting research. Trends in the citation of articles in Russian publications indicate the difference in a set of priority topics.The authors conclude that these differences depend not only and not so much on the “collision” of traditional and modern vision of the situation from the point of view of scientific research, but rather on deeper reasons based on cultural differences. These reasons are driven by the postmodern increase of the impact of culture on the development of science, reflecting these differences in the languages of cultures and in the translations, as well as by other, sometimes opposite, trends in the development of socio-cultural situation in different countries, related to the understanding of place and role of libraries, books and information in modern society.Based on the obtained results, there was adjusted the development plan of scientific-practical journal “Bibliotekovedenie”, as well as its name in English, starting 2019 (no. 6) — Russian Journal of Library Science.