1. Usage Statistics Presentation Domenic Iannello domenic.iannello@rmit.edu.au Electronic Resources Librarian

2. Introduction Usage – why we care? Usage – what do they do? Cost Per Use Issues Summing Up

3. Why care about usage statistics Major investment by libraries and consortia in licensed resources Usage information as basis for: –Securing funding –Allocating funding –Choosing or deselecting resources –Understanding patterns of use A non-intrusive method for viewing users behaviours

4. Usage Statistics They can… Track usage Track expenditure (Cost Per Use) Track turnaways Track usage trends Assist in making collection development decisions (eg. P to E projects) Advocate for resources

5. Cost Per Use Full cost of the resource for the year divided by the total number of downloads or searches in a year. Calculation of costs should be in original currency and consistent. Set a threshold for cost per use above which all e- resources will be reviewed (eg. $15, which may be the cost for an interlibrary loan request).

7. Issues Do database vendors provide usable usage data for libraries? Do database vendors provide comparable data? How do libraries deal with non standard data? How to automate analysis and reporting of usage data? How can data be best integrated into library decision making?

14. Signing Licences Within The Library… Under $5,000 - in-house $5,001- $50,000 – Library Executive $50,001-$100,000 – University Librarian Outside The Library… $100,000 - $500,000 – Deputy Vice Chancellor Over $500,000 – Vice Chancellor

15. Summing Up Online database usage statistics are essential for ongoing evaluation of online database services Basic usage statistics can be used to develop a range of performance measures and indicators for outcomes assessment Vendors must pay attention to standards compliance in usage stats The usage statistics can be used to justify or refine database purchases

16. Questions?