Search results

1 – 10 of over 27000
Article
Publication date: 1 December 2005

Jeanie M. Welch

This paper aims to discuss the viability of web server statistics for library‐generated web pages as measures of public service activity. For years librarians have gathered…

2117

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the viability of web server statistics for library‐generated web pages as measures of public service activity. For years librarians have gathered, reported, and analyzed traditional measures such as reference transactions, patron visits, book and reserve item circulation, and interlibrary loan transactions. Since the advent of web‐based databases and services, some traditional usage statistics have declined. Such declines can have political and financial implications for libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The author did a literature review, studied a suggested revision to the NISO Z39.7‐1995 Library Statistics standard that includes counting usage of library‐generated web pages, participated in a task force on web statistics, and analyzed library web site statistics at a university library.

Findings

The recommendations of a task force on reporting web page usage statistics in an academic library are discussed. The reporting of the usage of library‐generated web pages can be a useful indicator of increased patron contacts and provide a more complete picture of public service activities.

Research limitations/implications

This is a new area for library statistics, and its impact on the perceptions of libraries as sources of information in the digital age has yet to be proven.

Originality/value

This paper is useful to libraries which wish to integrate web page usage statistics into their output measures and reporting procedures.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 33 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 2001

Yan Quan Liu

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilizing statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part…

1085

Abstract

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilizing statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part of library tradition has received growing attention from researchers, policymakers, library managers, and professionals. However, few studies have investigated how statistics are used in libraries. This report compares directors’ uses of statistics provided by national agencies in the USA and China to highlight differences and similarities of the uses the two countries’ directors make of statistics and the statistical information that directors find particular useful. The results are intended to provide library administrators with an insight of how library statistics are used in the managerial process and may also help the national statistical providers to obtain an understanding of the characteristics and pattern of use of their products.

Details

New Library World, vol. 102 no. 4/5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4803

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2001

Yan Quan Liu

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilising statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part…

Abstract

Librarians have been involved in collecting and disseminating statistics for many years. Utilising statistics to describe and assess the operation of library activities as a part of library tradition has received growing attention from researchers, policymakers, library managers, and professionals. However, few studies have investigated how statistics are used in libraries. This report compares directors’ uses of statistics provided by national agencies in the USA and China to highlight the differences and similarities between the ways in which the two groups of directors make use of statistics, and the statistical information that directors find particularly useful. The results are intended to provide library administrators with an insight of how library statistics are used in the managerial process, and may also help the national statistical providers to obtain an understanding of the characteristics and pattern of use of their products.

Details

Library Management, vol. 22 no. 4/5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2000

John Carlo Bertot, Charles R. McClure and Joe Ryan

This paper is an interim report of a study under way in the USA with the goal of developing a core set of national statistics and performance measures that librarians,researchers…

908

Abstract

This paper is an interim report of a study under way in the USA with the goal of developing a core set of national statistics and performance measures that librarians,researchers, and policy‐makers can use to describe public library and library‐based state‐wide network use of the Internet and Web‐based services and resources. The paper summarises preliminary findings and key issues identified as of January 2000. It describes a number of models for developing such statistics and performance measures. The paper also offers a number of preliminary statistics and performance measures that are being field‐tested to describe information resources and services in the networked environment. The authors expect to have a final set of such statistics and performance measures by the summer of 2000.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2002

Rachel Cheng, Steve Bischof and Alan J. Nathanson

This article details the experience of Wesleyan University Library in Middletown, CT, in the collection, management and assessment of library usage statistics to improve current…

2047

Abstract

This article details the experience of Wesleyan University Library in Middletown, CT, in the collection, management and assessment of library usage statistics to improve current library collections and services and plan for future changes in light of rapid changes in technology. Topics discussed include index and database usage statistics, data from faculty and student surveys and how such data led to service changes, reference hours (including digital reference), electronic bibliographies, liaison programs, and journal circulation data. The conclusion offers several suggestions for other libraries who wish to begin a statistical measurement program.

Details

OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1065-075X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2002

Thomas A. Peters

E‐resource usage statistics contain a wealth of information, but mining that information from the massive amounts of data can be time consuming, expensive, and dangerous. Focuses…

2400

Abstract

E‐resource usage statistics contain a wealth of information, but mining that information from the massive amounts of data can be time consuming, expensive, and dangerous. Focuses on the practical aspects of getting some use out of usage statistics. Recent national studies in the USA and efforts to standardize the gathering and interpretation of e‐resource usage statistics show promise for accelerating the adoption and diffusion of reliable, meaningful usage information. The article concludes with some speculation about the overall value and long‐term potential for e‐resource usage statistics.

Details

New Library World, vol. 103 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4803

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2004

Charles R. McClure

Purpose. To offer a range of practical suggestions for library staff and others who intend to collect and analyze data that describe their networked services. Method/approach.

913

Abstract

Purpose. To offer a range of practical suggestions for library staff and others who intend to collect and analyze data that describe their networked services. Method/approach. Based on the author's experience in completing a number of funded research projects on this topic, working directly with libraries in collecting networked statistics and implementing the findings from those efforts, and observing best practices at those libraries. Findings. Factors dealing with understanding the evaluation context, planning, training, organization, determining appropriate data collection methods, managing data, and knowing the target audience for reporting are all‐important. Details a number of specific factors and strategies that can be used to increase the success of collecting networked statistics. Practical implications. Thinking about the preparation needed to collect networked statistics and how the process can be handled as efficiently as possible before the effort begins can help ensure that the library staff uses its time as wisely as possible in the data collection process, collects high quality and useful data, integrates these data into other library data, can draw upon the data for future purposes through a management information system, and uses the data to improve overall library decision making, planning, and meeting community information needs.

Details

VINE, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-5728

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 May 2012

J. Gabe Gossett, Elizabeth Stephan and Rebecca Marrall

The purpose of this article is to explore the process of implementing LibAnswers, a reference statistics collection and analysis software, at multiple service points in an…

1122

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the process of implementing LibAnswers, a reference statistics collection and analysis software, at multiple service points in an academic library and to outline the benefits of the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The article outlines the process used to implement a statistics software, including initial testing, development of categories and terms used to define the question types, and training of library staff.

Findings

Implementing a statistics program at multiple service points takes flexibility and patience. The biggest challenge faced was developing common terms to define what each desk did and how the statistics would be used. While this process was useful for implementing the software, it also resulted in unexpected organizational development opportunity as it allowed others to see and better understand the functions of different service points. A total commitment to the new program developed through training and the experiences of those who had used LibAnswers during a test period.

Practical implications

LibAnswers, and similar statistics collection programs, are fairly new applications in the library field. While they have multiple uses for expanding and simplifying the collection of reference statistics, this article demonstrates that while implementing statistics software across multiple service points can be difficult, the process of putting it in place can produce numerous benefits.

Originality/value

Much has been written on the implementation of reference statistics, but little has been written in detail about developing a library‐wide statistics program. This article fills some of the gaps.

Article
Publication date: 27 September 2018

Lan Ye, Wei Yang and Weiming Lin

This paper aims to share some experiences and practical activities related to the use and management of usage data in the Digital Resource Acquisition Alliance of Chinese Academic…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to share some experiences and practical activities related to the use and management of usage data in the Digital Resource Acquisition Alliance of Chinese Academic Libraries (DRAA) as a reference for library consortia engaged in providing usage statistics services of e-resources to member libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and online survey are used to analyze the research and practice of e-resources usage statistics conducted internationally. The case of DRAA is introduced to present how DRAA develops usage statistics services and promotes the implementation of the Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative (SUSHI) to deliver usage statistics to member libraries. Future developments and enhancements are also described.

Findings

The main actions taken by DRAA to develop usage statistics services are as follows: development of the DRAA Usage Statistics Portal to provide a single point of access to usage statistics from participating publishers on behalf of member libraries; development of a SUSHI client, taking the lead in promoting SUSHI implementation to automatically obtain usage statistics in Chinese academic libraries; establishment of a working group on usage statistics and the China Academic Library and Information System/DRAA Standards and Recommended Practices Research Task Group to form a long-term mechanism for monitoring and gathering usage statistics; and strengthening of the understanding and application of standards and best practices for libraries and vendors in China. Scheduled enhancements in the future include a deep analysis and utilization of usage statistics, the promotion of Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources and SUSHI to Chinese academic resource publishers and raising awareness about normalizing usage statistics.

Originality/value

This paper has pertinence and wider implications for library consortia engaged in providing e-resources usage statistics services to member libraries.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2011

Luciana Sacchetti, Paola Iannucci and Simona Tosi

The purpose of this paper is to present a personal story about the use of statistics to help protect library services at the Library of the Department of Statistics at Bologna…

795

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a personal story about the use of statistics to help protect library services at the Library of the Department of Statistics at Bologna University.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the statistics used uncritically by the Centralized Library Services of the University, their inadequacy, and greater utility of the data gathered by the Statistics Library together with those of the University of Ferrara.

Findings

The data gathered by the Statistics Library and those of the University of Ferrara provided a richer and more valid image of their services and their value to the user community, than the limited, somewhat old‐fashioned and simplistic metrics of the Centralized Library Services.

Originality/value

This successful approach helped change the mind of senior library management at a time of retrenchment. It is hoped that it will inspire others to challenge simplistic snapshots of services and strengthen their cases with more representative data.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 27000