Chapter 5: Appendix: Survey: Electronic Resources Usage Statistics

Abstract

Libraries and other information agencies invest millions of collection development dollars in electronic resources. One of the enduring quests in LIS is to develop models and tools that will assist with the task of the determining which materials will be popular and which will (literally or figuratively) collect dust. By virtue of the nature of libraries as institution that depend upon an outside entity for funding, librarians are also charged with demonstrating the cost-effectivenes of their services and resources as well as their stewardship of those resources. Standards agencies' efforts at contributing to the understanding of the behavior of users of electronic journals have been significant, and researchers and vendors have initiated and spearheaded projects and products that seek to create metrics that present a broader picture of use. This report presents a review of the state of the art of electronic resources usage measurement, highlighting the importance of presenting clear and meaningful measurement of electronic resources use in LIS research, assessment, and standards creation. The authors explore the nature of current standards, tools, and initiatives for measuring and reporting electronic resources usage.