[Eril-l] Counter Searches vs. Unique Item Investigations

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

Mark,

Does the platform offer the option to cross search several databases on their platform?
e.g. My library provides links to all database search options for EBSCO as well as Proquest. When a patron uses an all database search, every single database included in the all database search will register the search(es) conducted in the all database cross-search.
This will inflate individual database search counts. You might want to check the DR or DR_D1 search reports to see how many of your databases on the same platform have very similar search counts due to all database searches performed on the vendor's platform.
This is why I don't rely on database search counts but use either item investigation or item request counts for db evaluations.

Hope this helps.

Andrea
ANDREA IMRE
Electronic Resources and Interim Collections Librarian
MORRIS LIBRARY
MAIL CODE 6632
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
605 AGRICULTURE DR
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
aimre at siu.edu
P: 618.453.4339






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Subject: [Eril-l] Counter Searches vs. Unique Item Investigations


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I understand the distinctions between searches, total item requests, and unique item investigations.  What I'm wondering about is why a database would have a large number of searches (over 1,000) yet only have small, double digit unique item investigations and/or total item requests.  Is there some explanation for this significant variance?

Thanks
Mark

-

Mark Gooch

Collection Management Librarian

The College of Wooster Libraries

1140 Beall Ave.

Wooster, Ohio 44691

Phone: 330-263-2522

FAX: 330-263-2253

mgooch at wooster.edu<mailto:mgooch at wooster.edu>
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