English abstract
This study aimed to investigate Library and Information Science Journals available in Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to clarify the importance of these journals for the field researchers and to evaluate their content, impact and structure, The study employed descriptive method to identify Library and Information Journals available in (DOAJ) focusing on their main subject majors, search techniques, languages, and articles publishing processes. A biblionmatric method was also taken to analyze and measure Library and Information Journals published in (DOAJ) using impact factor, Immediacy index, impact of time factor on the use of literature, self citation of journals, self citation of authors, half time of citation, Bradford Law on dispersion of articles, and Locta Law on authors' productivity. Data were analyzed using Excel program and the study findings are as following:
The highest number of journals available in (DOAJ) was in Social Sciences which was (1643; 18.9%). Regarding to the sub disciplines, Education was the first (550; 6.3%) and Library and Information Science was in a good range (134; 1.55%). - Library and Information Science Journals available in (DOAJ) have been cited by different researchers and have a subject impact. Results show that all journals covered in this study had impact factors except Pakistan Journal of Library and Information Sciences. The highest impact factor was (1.5) in Journal of Medical Internet Research and the lowest was (0.03) in DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology. In the light of the results mentioned above, the study recommendations are:
Researchers should be motivated to cite from (DOAJ) as it has good impact factors and publish updated information. - Arab researchers should be encouraged to publish in Library and Information Science journals accessible in (DOAJ). Publishing in different specialization areas should be supported too.
