Keyword analysis and research clusters in cloud computing within library and information science: a global perspective

Purpose This study aims to explore the scientific landscape of cloud computing within the library and information science field, with a particular emphasis on its application in research and educational settings. The research will examine the growth of scholarly literature in this domain, identify the leading authors and countries contributing to this field and evaluate the extent of international collaboration. Additionally, the study will highlight the most influential paper based on the highest citation count and Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) while analysing keywords to uncover emerging research trends within this subject area. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a scientometric and altmetric methodology to analyse research outputs sourced from Scopus. Data were extracted through a keyword-driven search strategy and subsequently visualized for science mapping, focusing on author contributions, country affiliations and keyword co-occurrence patterns, using VOSviewer. Furthermore, Dimensions.ai was used to assess Altmetric scores and Mendeley readership metrics for the most impactful publications. Findings The study reveals significant growth in cloud computing research within LIS, from 1 publication in 2008 to 80 in 2024, with a peak in citations between 2014 and 2021. However, recent declines suggest a shift in focus or increased competition. Keyword analysis identifies six thematic clusters, highlighting the field’s interdisciplinary nature, while co-authorship and international collaboration networks suggest concentrated but regionally focused efforts. A gap between academic impact and public visibility is evident, underscoring the need for better social media promotion and greater interdisciplinary and global collaboration to enhance research visibility and impact. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has combined both scientometric and altmetric approaches to analyse cloud computing research.