The Measurement of Use of Web-based Information Resources: An Early Look at Vendor-supplied Data

Abstract

To manage Web-based resources effectively, librarians need to evalu ate vendor-supplied data about their use. This article explores the types of data available, using as its starting point the elements defined by the International Coalition of Library Consortia's (ICOLC) "Guidelines for Statistical Measures of Usage of Web-based Indexed, Abstracted, and Full-text Resources." It discusses the problems and issues of comparing use data from different vendors. Then, illustrated with data from one library, the article addresses five measures that have implications for collection management: variability of ICOLC data elements over time, which demonstrated the need to examine data continually; ratios of que ries per session, which showed more stability over time than individual ICOLC elements; use by hour, which documented remote use but con firmed that most use occurred during regular library hours; use of elec tronic journal collections, which was more scattered than the classic 80/ 20 distribution; and use of Web-based resources in relation to a disci plinary population, which provided an index of value for assessing use of a particular resource. This study identifies aspects of data collection that librarians need to pay special attention to, recommends that ven dors report the maximum number of simultaneous users per day and data gaps in addition to ICOLC elements, and suggests per capita use as a comparative measure among libraries.he proliferation of Web-based resources has greatly increased the information that libraries can deliver to their users' desk tops. These resources have great power and promise but come with substantial cost-the price of licensing them. Elec tronic versions of products often cost more than the print copy, and in most cases, the license allows for only a year of access, whereas the library purchases the print copy outright and can keep it 434

A Snapshot of Early Adopters of E-journals: Challenges to the Library

“…8 Deborah D. Blecic, Joan B. Fiscella, and Stephen Wiberley analyzed available vendor-generated statistics with an eye toward consistency with International Coalition of Library Consortia guidelines and suggested ways vendors could modify reporting practices to provide more useful statistics for libraries. 9 David H. Morse and William A. Clintworth compared data from full-text offerings from Ovid Biomedical Journals with their print counterpart's reshelving patterns and found online usage typically ten times that of the print counterpart. 10 Sandra L. DeGroote and Josephine Dorsch found that although increases were measured in online versions of existing print journal usage over time, print usage declined across the board, whether or not the library retained an electronic subscription.…”

Evaluative Usage-based Metrics for the Selection of E-journals

“…… It can then ascertain the least expensive mix of titles that meets its goal and cancel the others." 13 Although these discussions provide a starting point, a great deal of ground remains to be explored if e-journal assessment is to approach even the level of existing print journal assessments.…”

Measurement of Use of Electronic Resources: Advances in Use Statistics and Innovations in Resource Functionality

“…The study library began using a federated search engine, WebFeat, in March 2001, Blecic, Fiscella, and Wiberley reported that the ratio of searches per session can be useful to monitor change or trends because it tends to be fairly stable over time unless something differs in the way use data are collected or in the way a resource is being used. 27 Federated searching changes the way electronic resources are used, because users can search many resources at one time. Each federated search via WebFeat generates one session and one search per electronic resource searched.…”