Hi All –

Good responses so far, so I though I’d throw in my own $0.02.

We’ve actually begun our first-ever (apparently) Database Review project. We’ve compiled statistics from our vendors (you all know the apples-oranges-cherries routine) and, when possible, relied on html/pdf downloads for creating a ‘cost-per-use’ statistic but barring the availability of html/pdf statistics, we’ve used searches or sessions and have indicated that as the unit of measure. In addition to this, we have a report (set up as a word document) for each database which includes the annual cost, time of year of renewal, when we began the subscription, and the report has spaces for subject specialists to identify like products in our own database list, like products out there in the rest of the world, and a place for comments as to the uniqueness of the content and the importance of the database to its subject area as well as the ‘target audience.’

While all of this may seem cumbersome, we (I chaired a committee which dealt with this project) decided that there was no single factor which could or should be used as a measuring stick to determine the usefulness or financial effectiveness of a product but rather a matrix of factors – very few of which are actually quantifiable – which our collection advisory group will have to assess. We’re hoping to end up with a big snapshot of how our databases are used and what their cost is to the library. I should also mention that for this first round of databases, we have not considered journal packages or journal-based ‘databases’ since that is a whole case of Pandora’s boxes which we’ll open later.

Hope this helps ……

Peter V. Picerno

Serials & E-Resources

Asst. Head, Resource Development

Green Library GL 810

Florida International University

University Park

Miami  FL   33199

Ph: 305.348.6279

Fax: 305.348.1798

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Harrell, Emily
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:08 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Usage statistics and reports

Thanks Patricia.   This is helpful.

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia Thompson
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:11 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Usage statistics and reports

Great questions! I hope others will respond here.

Many of us do this yearly, and have to submit reports to various groups, such as the ACRL Annual Survey.

It seems to me that the main reason we want usage stats is to see whether our resources are being used and whether we are spending our money wisely. However, sometimes I have no idea how to evaluate the numbers I gather. I can do a cost-per-search calculation, but how do I know, for example, whether $26.50 per search is reasonable for a limited scope database that our subject specialist regards as indispensable? And how in the world do I make sense out of the various numbers I get from proxy stats, link resolver stats, and vendor/publisher stats? How can I possibly have time to check all of the possible access routes for each journal subscription?

And, finally, how do I take these massive spreadsheets and distill them into accurate and digestible reports for people who don't have time to pore over all the numbers?

Pat Thompson

Patricia R. Thompson
Assistant University Librarian for Resource Management Services
duPont Library
University of the South
Sewanee, TN 37383
931-598-1657
pthompso@sewanee.edu


At 09:54 AM 6/2/2009, you wrote:

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