Metrics: Assessing Usage (Part One)

Webinar

Scope

Usage metrics are both useful and controversial — a complicated arena of exploration. New technologies and policies lead to new behaviors and practices. How much should libraries rely on usage to justify their continued investment in a publication, database, or platform?  What sorts of metrics do publishers use, and how? How well do our existing definitions and tools work in an increasingly open access world? Are there opportunities for libraries and publishers to work together on new and more equitable metrics? In our increasingly data-driven world, this two-part webinar will enable a much-needed deeper discussion of these and other important questions for all stakeholders in the information community.

Confirmed speakers include Klara Maidenberg, Assessment Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries (UTL); John McDonald, Director of Product Management for Analytics & Assessment for EBSCO and a member of the board at COUNTER; and Jian Wang, Electronic and Continuing Resources Librarian, Portland State University and member of the SPARC Data Analysis Working Group.

A special thanks to Beth German, Assistant Director Library Assessment and User Experience, at Princeton University, and member of the NISO Education Committee for working closely with us in the planning of this program!

Event Sessions

Speakers

John McDonald

Director of Product Management for Analytics & Assessment
EBSCO Information Services

Jian Wang

Electronic and Continuing Resources Librarian, Portland State University and member of the SPARC Data Analysis Working Group

The discussion by participants was based on the following questions:

Open and context

  1. How does collection usage data fit into the broader context of library assessment?
  2. What successes have you used in using data at your organization?
  3. Opportunities/challenges collecting data
  4. Opportunities/challenges using data 

Details, hot topics, and specialties

  1. Beyond should we buy it/keep-it, how does usage factor into institutional strategy?
  2. How do usage metrics help tell the narrative of library value?
  3. As the world is shifting increasingly from subscription based models toward open access, what data are you gathering related to OA?

Looking forward and bridging to Part 2

  1. What excites you in the world of assessing usage?
  2. Part 2 is about what additional metrics are needed, what are some things that you would expect to hear during that session?

Related Information and Shared Resources:

COUNTER Release 5.1 - Education and training for Release 5.1 of the COUNTER Code of Practice. Whether you’re a report provider or a report consumer, new to COUNTER or an old hand, we’ve got what you need.

Research Organization Registry (ROR) - The Research Organization Registry (ROR) includes IDs and metadata for more than 102,000 organizations and counting. Registry data is CC0 and openly available via a search interface, REST API, and data dump. Registry updates are curated through a community process and released on a rolling basis.

Elsevier Connect: An evolving library role optimizes data to add value - Library Assessment Officer Liz Bober helps Case Western Reserve University rise in the rankings

Additional Information

NISO assumes organizations register as a group. The model assumes that an unlimited number of staff will be watching the live broadcast in a single location, but also includes access to an archived recording of the event for those who may have timing conflicts. 

Registrants receive sign-on instructions via email on the Friday prior to the virtual event. If you have not received your instructions by the day before an event, please contact NISO headquarters for assistance via email (nisohq@niso.org). 

Registrants for an event may cancel participation and receive a refund (less $35.00) if the notice of cancellation is received at NISO HQ (nisohq@niso.org) one full week prior to the event date. If received less than 7 days before, no refund will be provided. 

Links to the archived recording of the broadcast are distributed to registrants 24-48 hours following the close of the live event. Access to that recording is intended for internal use of fellow staff at the registrant’s organization or institution. Speaker presentations are posted to the NISO event page.

Broadcast Platform

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