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

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

Hi all,

Chris — just out of curiosity how the unique item request inaccuracies were
discovered? I've never heard of that and I don't think I've seen the
COUNTER folks share anything about it, and I didn't know if they've
addressed this directly themselves and I've just missed it, haha.

Thanks!
Erika

On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 12:03 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> [*Caution*: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
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>
> I just learned from a presentation at the Acquisitions Institute
> <https://acquisitionsinstitute.org/> this past week that Counter 5.1
> apparently reports unique title requests accurately, but not unique item
> requests. Unique Item requests count all items of a title as used even if
> only one was used (i.e. all book chapters record usage when only one book
> chapter was actually accessed). Perhaps that is what is happening.
>
> I do not yet know specifics for all of the reports, but had planned to
> explore it.
>
> Chris
>
> _______________________
> Christine W. Blackman (Chris)
> Head of Collections and Systems
> Williams Libraries <https://library.williams.edu/>
> (413) 597-4403
> pronouns: she/her
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 9:41 AM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
>> 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
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