[Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks

Fri Sep 19 06:27:47 PDT 2025

Exactly, Melissa! And I am definitely one of those people who accidentally
re-downloads something because I didn't pay attention...... 😅

On Fri, Sep 19, 2025 at 9:23 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> We have many EBAs and some of them will alter their "spendout report" to
> give Unique Title Request data if you ask them well enough ahead of time,
> or sometimes even after they've sent you the "wrong" metric first.
>
> The most egregious are the ones using by default "total item requests",
> which is the absolute maximal statistic - at least unique item requests
> doesn't count twice if the user downloads the same chapter twice in a
> session, which total does. I've seen users download the same object twice
> just because they didn't pay attention to where their browser was saving it
> the first time and instead of looking for it, just got it again.
>
> 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:* Thursday, September 18, 2025 1:10 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse eBooks
>
>
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>
> 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
>
>
>
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>
>
> 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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