[Eril-l] search statistics

[Steve Oberg]

Same here, although it’s been a pattern for more than two years, i.e. prior to adoption of COUNTER R4. I don’t know this for sure but one plausible reason in our case for lower search stats is the increased variety of databases and sources we offer our users. We’ve added a lot of new content over the past three years and our Databases A-Z list has grown tremendously.

At the same time, we have made WorldCat Local our default library catalog for users. We redesigned our website two years ago to feature a simple search box that uses WorldCat Local, and I think this plays a huge role in our usage stats. The default search goes against a pre-selected, small list of databases and I think this might in turn squeeze out other databases in terms of use. In other words, I’m not sure as many people are turning to a list such as Databases A-Z as they might have done previously. And even though WorldCat Local allows users to add/remove databases, and the list of potential adds is long, I doubt our users make much use of that functionality.

Again, speculation. It’d make for interesting research if I had the time to do so :-)

Steve

Steve Oberg<http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Faculty/O/Steve-Oberg>
Assistant Professor of Library Science
Electronic Resources and Serials
Wheaton College (IL)
+1 (630) 752-5852

From: "Smith, Kelly"
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 8:00 AM
To: 'Lois O'Neill', "'Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:'Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>'"
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] search statistics

Yes, we experienced the same, and we think they are more accurate now. The former search stats seemed unreasonably high.

Kelly Smith
Coordinator of Collections and Discovery
Eastern Kentucky University Libraries
emailkelly.smith2 at eku.edu<mailto:kelly.smith2 at eku.edu>| research guides<http://libguides.eku.edu/prf.php?account_id=300>
[EKU-Libraries-Logo---Maroon]<http://www.library.eku.edu/>


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Lois O'Neill
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2015 8:59 AM
To: Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: [Eril-l] search statistics

Hi all,
We have noticed a drop in the number of database searches for the past academic year, from 9/13 to 8/14. I'm wondering if the lower search count (e.g. in Database Report 1) is related to the switch to counter 4. Has anyone else experienced a lower search count? If so, do you find a connection to the switch to counter 4?
Thanks.

--
Lois O'Neill
Associate Professor
Electronic Resources/Reference Librarian
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY
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