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Purpose. The aim of this paper is to describe and critically analyse the application of citation analysis in the evaluation of the "Andrija Štampar" Library collection, an academic library of the Zagreb University School of Medicine, the School of Public Health in Croatia. Methodology/Approach. A total of 235 master's theses from the Graduate Program of Studies in Nursing at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine in the period from 2014 to 2017 were examined using citation analysis. The selected sample of master's theses has a broad range of specialisations which encompass key disciplines in medical sciences. Results. The results show that the library collection meets the needs of this specific group of users. The study revealed that the journals were the most preferred source of information used by the students in the field of nursing, accounting for 55.7% of total citations. The nursing students used the journals familiar to them that are easily accessible and available in open access. Practical implications. This paper indicates that citation analysis is a valid method for collecting indicators on the actual use of library information sources. Originality The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the quality of library collections in the academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, scientists' needs for quality information sources in printed and electronic form, required for carrying out teaching and research, posed new challenges to libraries and the existing paradigm of their work. Information needs of particular categories of library users are changing, and more research is needed to understand and meet those needs. The results of such research will possibly lead to a change in the existing library paradigm and to adapting the modes of their operation in an environment which is constantly altering under the influence of information and communication technology. This article concentrates on possibility of adaptation of libraries to the new environmental conditions, as well as their adaptation to the needs of particular user categories such as scientists. Libraries should develop new strategies in order to become institutions fully oriented towards learning (personal development of users, and their own development). Therefore, libraries' main goal in near future should be constant adaptation to new conditions, in order to meet information needs and requests, thus making their position in scientific community more stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]