2016 Charleston Library Conference

Libraries and publishers rely more and more on usage data to evaluate content. However, there are other considerations beyond raw data; context is vital, and format and subject matter will be reflected in the numbers. This panel will present a range of perspectives and findings dealing with the challenges of usage analysis from a librarian at a large state university, a librarian from a small private university, a streaming video publisher, and a humanities aggregator. In libraries, COUNTER statistics reports play an important role in decisions but we'll also hear about the frustrations all libraries face in data analysis and the factors beyond just usage data that drive collection decisions. Libraries rely heavily on their discovery systems, but how can one measure the impact---good or bad---that a discovery system has on e-resource usage? How do existing metrics stack up for usage of non-traditional formats, and what are additional ways to consider the value of visual resources? How can publishers reconcile their goal of providing the best possible user experience with that of driving usage? This panel will encourage libraries and publishers to engage in a broader dialogue about measures of value. Bring your questions, tips, and experiences with usage data and join the conversation.