Content curation in a university library: Case study of scientific dissemination in Geology and Ocean Sciences with TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters

Abstract:

The article aims to analyze the content curation process and the impact of TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters on subscribers. These newsletters, focusing on geology and ocean sciences, disseminate curated news to keep readers informed about scientific developments. The study seeks to establish metrics for accurately measuring subscriber interest and satisfaction. A key challenge is the lack of specificity and standardized metrics for such specialized newsletters. This study employs the case study methodology to achieve the objectives. The evolution of the newsletters is analyzed based on data extracted from email marketing platforms. Additionally, participant observation is used to examine key aspects such as platforms used, the curation system, information sources, topics covered, and the developed metrics system. Findings reveal stable open and click-to-open rates over time, indicating that subscribers maintain consistent levels of interest regardless of the specific content. Additionally, subscribers are classified into 16 categories based on interaction habits, providing valuable insights into reader behavior. These classifications and metrics are essential for understanding the audience and measuring the newsletters' impact and success. The study highlights the importance of continuous adaptation to new technologies, the value of specialized information for a diverse audience, the relevance of email as a communication channel, and the development of own metrics focused on user satisfaction. These contributions can be applied to other libraries and scientific dissemination newsletters.