We compile our statistics twice per year. Once in February for the previous calendar year and once in August for the previous fiscal year.  The COUNTER format makes it quite easy to integrate the reports from the various vendors into a single report.  Non-COUNTER reports take a bit more work.

Our statistics are generally used in the fall and the spring (our resources are either on a July-June or January-December renewal cycle) so we don’t feel like it is worth it to compile the statistics more frequently.

We have a large number of resources from our consortium but the stats they provide aren’t broken down by campus so we continue to collect that usage as well.

We don’t get complicated with our stats so I don’t have much to recommend in terms of statistical tools or benchmarks.  The only thing we do is add in our cost amounts and then figure cost-per-use using Excel formulas.

Buddy Pennington

Serial Acquisitions Librarian

University of Missouri - Kansas City

800 East 51st Street

Kansas City, MO  64110

Phone: 816-235-1548

Fax: 816-333-5584

Email: penningtonb@umkc.edu

UMKC University Libraries: Discovery. Knowledge. Empowerment.

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Harrell, Emily
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:55 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Usage statistics and reports

Hello all,

I am wondering how often other E-Resources librarians gather statistics and compile reports.  I am at an institution that is part of a consortium where the statistics are compiled and provided to us via the consortium. 

Currently there is no policy in place requiring reports at certain times.  Should I, as the E-Resources librarian, be gathering and evaluating numbers for good measure?   Also, it has been many years since I’ve taken a statistics course.  Are there any recommendations on what types of statistical measures I should be working with?  Or a suggested reading list?  Any recommendations are welcome.

Thanks,

E. Harrell,

Serials and E-Resources Librarian

Gulf Coast Community College