E-Journal and Database Usage Statistics - developing an international
Code of Practice
Today's business environment places a growing emphasis on the
justification of expenditure on information products. So reliable,
consistent and compatible online usage statistics are becoming an
urgently needed and essential resource for vendors, libraries and
users. It is therefore vital that the global information community
should do its utmost to get together to pool collective wisdom and
expertise towards developing just one Code of Practice for e-journal
and database usage statistics. The worst possible scenario would be a
multiplicity of codes and conventions which, because of their
incompatibility, get minimal buy-in.
It was with this in mind, that the Publishers and Libraries Solutions
(PALS) group, an organisation created by the JISC, the Publishers'
Association (PA) and the Association of Learned and Professional
Society Publishers (ALPSP), decided to set up the PALS Usage Statistics
Working Group in September 2000, chaired by Richard Gedye from Oxford
University Press. The aim of the Working Group is to develop a Code of
Practice for vendor based e-journal and database usage statistics that
will include guidance on:
* Which data elements should be measured
* Definitions of these data elements
* Output report formats/ frequency/ granularity
* Methods of delivery
* Methods of combining usage reports from direct use and from use
via intermediaries - including gateways, aggregators, and
electronic document delivery vendors
* Methods of measuring remote usage of institutionally licensed
products
* Methods of measuring usage from caches and mirrors
In June 2001, the group organised an international forum in London, to
discuss a set of draft proposals. The forum was attended by some 55
representatives from the vendor, standards and library communities and
the outcome was agreement on a substantial number of data elements and
their definitions, as well as on matters of output and delivery.
However, as expected, a significant number of issues proved too complex
to be resolved on the day. Consequently, these outstanding issues were
grouped into six discrete areas and volunteer experts were identified
from the delegates to become members of six sub-groups to undertake
further work on understanding and resolving the issues concerned. The
work of the sub-groups is now successfully feeding into the development
of the Code of Practice.
The Working Group aims to produce a basic Code of Practice by Spring
2002. There will then be further wide ranging consultation and regular
ongoing development of the Code to take into account more complex
issues and, most importantly, to reflect future developments in
technology, market practices and vendor functionality. It is hoped to
reinforce this development by encouraging the establishment of an
international and multi-agency body to develop, manage and maintain one
agreed Code of Practice and to act as a co-ordinator of the major
existing initiatives.
For further information visit the Working Group's website at:
http://www.usagestats.org/
--
Alison McNab, Collections Manager - Journals & Discovery Tools
JISC/DNER Office, King's College London,
Strand Bridge House, 138-142 Strand, London WC2R 1HH
Telephone: +44 207 848 2513
Fax: +44 207 848 2939
Email: [log in to unmask]
