*NISO to Hold Forum on Understanding the Data Around Us*
/Amigos Cosponsoring Two-Day Event on Gathering and Analyzing Usage Data/

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and Amigos
Library Services will host a forum on /Understanding the Data Around Us:
Gathering and Analyzing Usage Data/, to be held November 1-2 at the
Magnolia Hotel in Dallas, Texas. This two-day event asks library and
information service providers to think about what kinds of usage data --
for e-resources, print, and more -- can be used to help improve the
provision of information services, what data might be missing, and ways
all parties involved (libraries, publishers, aggregators, and system
vendors) can best use the data collected. The event includes speakers
who will discuss issues of gathering, analyzing, and applying usage
data, and encourages the audience to engage with questions of their own.

Topics to be addressed include:

     * Environmental scan on usage data: What data is being collected and
       why? What's missing?
     * COUNTER: Learn about COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of NeTworked
       Electronic Resources) and how the Codes of Practice improve the
       reliability of online usage statistics.
     * Library Perspective: How is data collected and what administrative
       questions does it answer?
     * Publisher Perspective: How is data collected and disseminated, and
       how does it affect sales and pricing?
     * Aggregator Perspective: How is data compiled from disparate
       content providers, and what reporting is being done?
     * SUSHI: Learn how the SUSHI (Standardized Usage Statistics
       Harvesting Initiative) protocol can automate the retrieval of
       COUNTER and other usage statistics.
     * Case Study: The large-scale harvesting of electronic resources
       usage data in a collaboration between a data aggregator, software
       provider, and academic library.
     * Next steps: Once you have data, what do you do with it? Learn
       about applications of usage data, including impact on collections
       decisions, services, and quality rankings.

Registration is now open. The early bird discount closes October 18th.
NISO and Amigos members are eligible for substantial discounts. Visit
the event webpage (http://www.niso.org/news/events_workshops/usage07/ l)
for more information or contact Karen Wetzel, NISO Standards Program
Manager, at kwetzel@niso.org <mailto:kwetzel@niso.org>.

Amigos Library Services is a cosponsor with NISO of the forum and Ex
Libris is a major sponsor. Additional sponsors are Innovative
Interfaces, Serials Solutions, and Thomson Scientific.

Cynthia Hodgson
NISO Technical Editor Consultant
National Information Standards Organization
Email: chodgson@niso.org <mailto:chodgson@niso.org>
Phone: 301-654-2512