Alternative metrics demonstrate the value and influence of scholars’ work apart fromtraditional citation counts and can enhance the impact of a CV. Altmetrics provideadditional, supplementary information and can balance misleading metrics tied toparticular journals. More timely than traditional metrics, altmetrics quickly reveal theimpact of recent work and add authority to different types of scholarly products notcaptured as articles. Altmetrics can capture social media references that escape traditionalmetrics and reflect public engagement prompted by scholarly writing. The availability ofaltmetrics expands publishing opportunities to include new venues and stimulatesinnovative strategies for evaluating research. When included in a CV altmetrics must beaccurate, clear and meaningful
NO ONE CAN READ EVERYTHING.We rely on filters to make sense of the scholarly literature, but the narrow, traditional filters are being swamped. However, the growth of new, online scholarly tools allows us to make new filters; these alt-metrics reflect the broad, rapid impact of scholarship in this burgeoning eco-system. We call for more tools and research based on altmetrics.