[Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks

Thu Sep 18 09:10:56 PDT 2025

I agree, Matthew -- great point! I always have to remember that the usage a
Vendor typically sends us for EBA selection review is for item requests
(especially Total Item, which just blows my mind) and that I'll need to
pull my own usage anyway.

On Thu, Sep 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> Very much agreed that Unique Title Requests is the metric to use for
> e-books. “Item Requests” is contingent on irrelevant factors: a platform’s
> design (do they allow whole book downloads, individual chapters, or both?)
> and a book’s number of chapters.
>
>
>
> Which makes it all the more egregious when EBA programs (including MUSE…)
> rely on item request metrics to inform libraries on usage for title
> selections at the end of a term. I’m sure many libraries have, without
> realizing it, selected titles simply because one book download = hundreds
> of “uses”.
>
>
>
> Matthew
>
>
>
> ___________
>
>
> *Matthew Goddard *Access and Acquisitions Head
>
> Iowa State University Library
>
> 204 Parks Library | Ames, IA 50011
>
> mgoddard at iastate.edu
>
> (515) 294-6650
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> *On Behalf Of *Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 18, 2025 8:08 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
>
> I agree with Melissa. I *sometimes *reference the Unique Item Request
> metric for additional context, but Unique Title Requests gives the picture
> I need for evaluating eBook usage.
>
>
>
> Erika Boardman
>
> eboardman at charlotte.edu
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 18, 2025 at 8:29 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
> I would expect most librarians who use COUNTER data to make decisions will
> be using Unique Title Request, not Unique Item Request, most of the time
> when dealing with ebook data. COUNTER added the "title" level of metrics
> (unique title investigations, unique title requests) just for books for
> exactly this reason.
>
> This document gives the technical rules for providers to use for these
> metrics, which can help librarians understand what is actually being
> counted.
>
>
> https://cop5.countermetrics.org/en/5.1.0.1/07-processing/04-counting-unique-titles.html
>
>
>
> Melissa Belvadi
>
> mbelvadi at upei.ca
>
> Make an appointment: https://mbelvadi.youcanbook.me/
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> on behalf of Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7:38 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> It might be worth noting that this will impact their count of
> *Unique_Item_Requests* when they flip to COUNTER Release 5.1, as each
> chapter in a full title download will be counted as a
> *Unique_Item_Request*.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Michelle
>
>
>
> *Michelle Morgan *(she/her) *| *Resource Analyst
>
> Collection Access and Development | Student and Scholarly Services
>
>
>
> Level 4, Thomas Cherry Building, 787 Swanston Street
>
> The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia
>
> *T: *+61 3 834 40693 *E: **michelle.morgan1 at unimelb.edu.au
> <michelle.morgan1 at unimelb.edu.au>*
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> *On Behalf Of *Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Thursday, 18 September 2025 5:07 AM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
>
> This matches the information a consortial colleague of mine received.
> However, there has to be a better way that is less of an inconvenience.
> Could PM not offer in-browser reading as many other vendors offer.  Or,
> offer both complete book download **and** chapter download which is also
> an option offered by some vendors.  While I appreciate the need for
> creating a more accessible reading experience, eliminating chapter
> downloads was not the answer.  Not sure why it has to be one or the other.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
>
> Laura Vogler
>
> Associate Library Director
>
>
>
> *Wabash College Lilly Library <https://library.wabash.edu/>* | 301 W
> Wabash Ave | Crawfordsville IN 47933 | P: 765.361.6215
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <*eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org
> <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org>*> *On Behalf Of *Electronic Resources
> in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 17, 2025 2:38 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <*eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>*>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
>
> I received this from Project Muse support when I inquired about this:
>
>
>
> After May 13, 2025, Project MUSE transitioned to providing full PDF and
> EPUB downloads for monographs. This decision was made in response to
> feedback indicating that segmented chapters necessitated users to navigate
> between chapters and repeatedly download content, often resulting in the
> need to download the complete book for additional context. Such navigation
> challenges particularly affected users with print disabilities, impeding
> both discoverability and comprehension. Project MUSE is dedicated to
> prioritizing accessibility in its ongoing efforts.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Kristina
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------
>
>
>
> *KRISTINA EDWARDS* *(she/her/hers)*
>
> Electronic Resources Librarian
>
> *UConn Library* | Homer Babbidge Library
>
> 369 Fairfield Way, Unit 1005 | Storrs, CT 06269
>
> o: (860) -48 6-4776
>
> *library.uconn.edu <http://library.uconn.edu/>*
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> *From:* Eril-l <*eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org
> <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org>*> *On Behalf Of *Electronic Resources
> in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 17, 2025 2:11 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <*eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>*>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
>
> *External sender: This message came from outside UConn. It might be safe,
> but use caution before interacting with links, attachments, or requests.*
>
>
>
> Hi Laura,
>
>
>
> I don't know exactly when the change happened, but I *also *noticed this
> a few months ago (sometime in April?) and was very confused. Maybe I missed
> an announcement, but I don't recall receiving any information about this
> change happening :/
>
>
>
> I don't recall being able to read eBooks within the interface, but I do
> agree with what you're saying (that it just seems to hold a link to the PDF
> and lacks navigation).
>
>
>
> Erika Boardman
>
> UNC Charlotte
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <*eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>*> wrote:
>
> [*Caution*: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
> attachments unless you know this sender.]
>
>
> Hello
>
>
>
> It has just come to my attention that the eBook chapter download option is
> no longer available for Project Muse eBooks.  It appears the only thing you
> can do is download the entire eBook.  Anyone know when this changed?  And
> did Project Muse never allow the user to view the book within the
> interface?  The interface seems now like it is just a repository for a link
> to the eBook and is not offering any viewing or navigation options to the
> reader.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
>
> Laura Vogler
>
> Associate Library Director
>
>
>
> *Wabash College Lilly Library <https://library.wabash.edu/>* | 301 W
> Wabash Ave | Crawfordsville IN 47933 | P: 765.361.6215
>
>
>
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