[Eril-l] Database usage metrics

[Harker, Karen]

That makes sense when the source the patron is using in the first place is the A&I interface (e.g. a ProQuest database).  But if the patron is searching a Discovery service (e.g. EBSCO Discovery) and sees a citation of interest (citation only, no full-text), the link associated with that citation goes through the OpenURL server with the “source” as “Discovery”, not the A&I database.  At least, that is how I understand the set up.  It has been a while since I’ve looked into this, but I don’t recall there being a major change to this structure.  I do hope I’m wrong.


Karen R. Harker, MLS, MPH
Collection Assessment Librarian
940-565-2688
http://librariesareforuse.wordpress.com


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Nelson, Stacy
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 3:43 PM
To: 'eril-l at lists.eril-l.org'
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Database usage metrics

Hi Karen,
We switched our method of gathering usage statistics and calculating cost per use for A&I databases in 2013.  I can send you a description I wrote for internal use ( when we devised the process in 2013) separately by email if you like.

If you have the database as “source” for your link resolver, you can use the number of requests for full text which come through that database as a gauge of usage—basically seeing if your users are finding the citations in that database useful enough to click-through.
It’s basically doing what Counter 4 stats do for full text databases, but  by tracking usage from “outside” (and using in conjunction with the “regular” counter usage stats)

Stacy Nelson
Head, Serials and Electronic Resources Acquisitions
CARS Program, UC San Diego Library
(858) 534-0288
scnelson at ucsd.edu<mailto:scnelson at ucsd.edu>

[Description: logo-library-blue-email-1]


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Harker, Karen
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 1:17 PM
To: Smith, Kelly <Kelly.Smith2 at eku.edu<mailto:Kelly.Smith2 at eku.edu>>; eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Database usage metrics

I don’t understand how the link resolver could help with A&I usage.  The OpenURL links check full-text, but they don’t provide details about the source of the metadata beyond the Discovery service.  Indeed, that is another way Discovery systems confound usage – there is no indication of the source of the data.

Please clarify.

Karen R. Harker, MLS, MPH
Collection Assessment Librarian
940-565-2688
http://librariesareforuse.wordpress.com


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Smith, Kelly
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 1:30 PM
To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Database usage metrics

We look at Counter reports for journals and eBooks. Another angle is to look at clickthrough statistics for your link resolver – a good strategy for assessing indexing databases.

For streaming video content, we mostly just take what we can get.

Kelly Smith
Coordinator of Collections and Discovery
Eastern Kentucky University Libraries
email kelly.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 Tim Pellett
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 2:26 PM
To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: [Eril-l] Database usage metrics

I would like to know what metrics other libraries are using to report database usage, especially those using a discovery service. Has your library moved away from propriety reports and moved to Counter 4 or using a mixture of both for any given vendor?

Traditionally we have recorded sessions and searches but are over inflated with implementation of discovery product and no longer helpful. As a result, looking to adopt full-text and abstract views and possibly some Counter4 metrics.

Realize this is not a new problem and your situation and metrics provided and used can vary based on database vendor and discovery product.

Thanks!

--
----------------
Tim Pellett
Library Support Specialist
Maine InfoNet, University of Maine
Phone: 207.581.3086
http://support.maineinfonet.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.eril-l.org/pipermail/eril-l-eril-l.org/attachments/20160212/41aec0ae/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 7128 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://lists.eril-l.org/pipermail/eril-l-eril-l.org/attachments/20160212/41aec0ae/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1497 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
URL: <http://lists.eril-l.org/pipermail/eril-l-eril-l.org/attachments/20160212/41aec0ae/attachment-0001.jpg>