Scoping review and bibliometric analysis of scientific production on the study of special collections

Objectives: To systematize the scientific literature about the study of special document collections available in open access data sources. Methods: The scoping review is used as a methodological tool. The SALSA framework and the PRISMA-ScR template are applied. The exploratory systematic review in Google Scholar, Dimensions, and Academia.Edu is complemented with a bibliometric study. The conjunction of both contributes to a more holistic approach to the object of study. Results: The exploratory systematic review and the bibliometric analysis allowed identifying the characteristics and/or distinctive features of the domain in question from the analysis of the content of the scientific literature. A terminological diversity (homonymy, synonymy, polysemy) was obtained around the denomination of the same document/collection. The mapping of the coverage and the thematic profile determined the existence of a wide thematic configuration and the genesis of proposals for the analysis of these collections associated with a thematic front that favors the application of Digital Humanities. Conclusions: The visualization of the elements, obtained from the review, reveals the ascending evolution of methodologies that-from the CI- pursue the creation of alternatives for the decoding of the documents that make up the special collections using a new perspective that offers the benefits of greater inclusivity, homogeneity, and social responsibility.