OCLC partners with Couperin.org to add analytics features to EZproxy authentication software

Partnership will help expand use of Couperin's ezPAARSE software outside of France

DUBLIN, Ohio, 13 February 2019—OCLC is partnering with the Couperin.org Consortium, the French non-profit that developed ezPAARSE software with the CNRS Institute for Scientific Information, to enhance OCLC's EZproxy authentication software with analytics features and to expand the use of ezPAARSE outside of France.

EZproxy access and authentication software allows libraries to deliver e-content simply and effectively through a single sign-in using existing library-issued credentials, such as a library card number and PIN or username and password.

A new analytics option for users of the hosted service will enrich EZproxy log data to illustrate, in detail, how a library's users are accessing subscribed electronic resources. The new feature will offer dashboard-style analytics and data visualizations through a dedicated web interface, as well as the ability to generate custom reports.

OCLC is working with Couperin.org to facilitate delivery of these new features. Couperin's ezPAARSE software ingests, filters and enriches proxy log files to show users' access to subscribed electronic resources. ezPAARSE is live in nearly 60 academic libraries in France.

"This partnership is a great fit for both organizations," said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development. "Couperin can help OCLC quickly deliver the analytics features our members want to better understand the usage of their e-content. OCLC can help Couperin expand its user-base through OCLC member libraries around the world. We look forward to working with Couperin, a respected partner and valued member of the research and higher education communities."

As part of its stated mission, the Couperin.org Consortium strives to improve scientific communication and promote the development of open systems of scientific and technical Information by developing appropriate tools, and to develop a network of national skills and exchanges for electronic documentation regarding acquisitions policies, collection development plans, information systems, and usage statistics.

"The Couperin.org consortium together with CNRS Institute for Scientific Information (Inist-CNRS), their partners and members are really enthusiastic about setting up this partnership with OCLC," said Grégory Colcanap, Couperin.org coordinator. "The EZproxy user base opens up new opportunities for perspective from the community around ezPAARSE. Thanks to the very collaborative and open source nature of the ezPAARSE software, each improvement simultaneously benefits all of its users. We are committed to harnessing the power of the community by encouraging contributions."

OCLC plans to pilot functionality of these analytics features with a small number of libraries that are current users of EZproxy hosted, including Claremont Colleges; Sonoma State University; University of New England; University of Manchester; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; and Audencia Business School.

OCLC expects to offer this functionality as an add-on to EZproxy hosted customers in the first half of 2019. To protect privacy, all usage data will continue to reside on the institution's own EZproxy hosted server.
EZproxy has been the market-leading authentication solution for e-resource access for almost 20 years. OCLC acquired the software in 2008. It is available as both a deployed instance (on the library's servers) or as a hosted solution (in OCLC's data centers). It accommodates a wide variety of authentication services including LDAP, SIP, CAS and Shibboleth. More about EZproxy is on the OCLC website.

Representatives of Inist-CNRS and Couperin will be presenting and OCLC will be hosting a session about the new analytics capabilities in EZproxy during the 2019 OCLC EMEA Regional Council Conference in Marseille, 26-27 February. OCLC and the U.S. pilot libraries will also do a presentation at the Electronic Resources & Libraries Conference in Austin, Texas, 3-6 March.

For more information: Contact Bob Murphy at [log in to unmask] or +1-614-761-5136 

About Couperin.org 
Couperin is the consortium of French higher education institutions that brings together universities, research organisations, grandes écoles, many hospitals, the national library and a few museums. The non-profit association is funded by membership fees and subsidized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Couperin's missions are to collect and analyze the documentary needs of its members, in order to negotiate and organize the purchase of digital documentary resources for the benefit of its members. Couperin runs a national network of skills and exchanges in electronic documentation, it develops services, in particular for the collecting and analysis of usage statistics, and is one of the major players in the promotion of Open Science in France. Couperin works in close collaboration with the CNRS Institute for Scientific Information and the Bibliographic Agency for Higher Education.

About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

OCLC, WorldCat, WorldCat.org, and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

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