I would also be interested in the effect of the facility which offers 'automatic' downloading of PDFs into an EndNote (for example) library. Presumably a lot of papers are downloaded just in case and never read. This will also have an impact on cost-per-download calculations.
Liz
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-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Smith
Sent: 06 May 2010 11:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Percentage of items used v number of downloads?
Andrew,
You are correct, it would be difficult (but not impossible I believe) to estimate the usefulness or 'value' of any downloaded article. Its just that I am suspicious of the basic formula often applied when estimating the 'value' of a big deal subscription which says 'We have 10000 downloads p.a. and the subscription to the service is £50000 so each article cost £5.'.
I am fully aware of the 'cited but not read' syndrome but these papers are not usually part of a current download count and so not included in the above formula.
John.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Buxton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 06 May 2010 09:18
> To: John Smith
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: Percentage of items used v number of downloads?
>
> There is some complicated Boolean logic involved here ("cited or
> read and had an influence on research" - also "actually used").
> It is quite common for articles to be cited but not read (e.g.
> cited because everyone who writes on that topic cites them) -
> though I suppose they have an influence on the research because
> they're part of the theoretical base. Also articles may be read
> but have no immediate influence on research (e.g. read for general
> awareness or teaching/learning purposes). How to increase the
> "actual use" of development research is one of our key issues, but
> it's not easy to define or measure.
>
> Andrew Buxton
> British Library for Development Studies
> Brighton
>
> ________________________________________
> From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
> discussion. [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Smith
> [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 05 May 2010 19:34
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Percentage of items used v number of downloads?
>
> Hi,
>
> When e-journal articles are freely available we know (anecdotally)
> that users download articles they subsequently don't use or don't
> even read past the first page.
>
> Does anyone know of any research into the number of articles
> actually used (cited or read and had an influence on research)
> versus the number of article downloads recorded?
>
> I am aware of the 2008 CIBER paper in Aslib Proceedings.
>
> Thanks for any info,
>
> John Smith,
> The Templeman Library,
> University of Kent, UK.
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