Augmenting discovery data and analytics to enhance library services

Authors

  • Roën Janyk

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1629/2048-7754.166

Abstract

Discovery services have become a norm in academic libraries. Usage data from these services has historically emphasized quantitative data such as full-text downloads, numbers of searches performed and title usage. Okanagan College Library incorporated Google Analytics into their discovery service in order to go beyond vendor-supplied quantitative data and obtain valuable qualitative information about users. This information can now be used to shape library services such as collection development, public services and interface design. The user-behaviour data findings are presented, along with suggestions for using this information to enhance library services.

References

Korah A Cassidy E, Students and Federated Searching: A Survey of Use and Satisfaction, Reference & User Services Quarterly, 2010, 49(4), 325–332.\nWisniewski J, Web Scale Discovery: The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades, Online, 2010, 34(4), 55–57.\nVaughan J, Investigations into Library Web-Scale Discovery Services, Information Technology & Libraries, 2012, 31(1), 32–82.\nBates M, Current State of Advanced Search: Progressing or Receding? Online Searcher, 2013, 37(6), 80.\nBates M, ref 4.\nVaughan J, ref. 3.\nCassidy E D Jones G McMain L Shen L Vieira S, Student Searching with EBSCO Discovery: A Usability Study, Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 2014, 26(1), 17–35.\nHolman L, Millennial Students’ Mental Models of Search: Implications for Academic Librarians and Database Developers, Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2011, 37(1), 19–27.\nHolman L, ref. 8.\nFry A Rich L, Usability Testing for e-Resource Discovery: How Students Find and Choose e-Resources Using Library Web Sites, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2011, 37(5), 386–401.\nHolman L, ref. 8.\nCassidy E D Jones G McMain L Shen L Vieira S ref. 4.\nHolman L, ref. 8.\nWilliams S C Foster A K, Promise Fulfilled? An EBSCO Discovery Service Usability Study, Journal of Web Librarianship, 2011, 5(3), 179–198.\nResearch Information Network, E-Journals: Their Use, Value and Impact, 2009, London, Research Information Network.\nHardin R, Rational Choice Theory. In: Encyclopedia of Sociology (2nd ed.), 2001, New York: Macmillan Reference USA.\nSimon H A, A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1955, 69(1), 99–118.\nHardin R, ref. 16.\nConnaway L S Dickey T J Radford M L, “If it is Too Inconvenient I'm Not Going After it:” Convenience as a Critical Factor in Information-Seeking Behaviors, Library & Information Science Research, 2011, 33(3), 179–190.\nWhiting A Williams D, Why people use social media: a uses and gratifications approach, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 2013, 16(4), 362–369.\nLariscy R W Tinkham S F Sweetser K D, Kids These Days: Examining Differences in Political Uses and Gratifications, Internet Political Participation, Political Information Efficacy and Cynicism on the Basis of Age, American Behavioral Scientist, 2011, 55, 749.\nFry A Rich L, ref. 10.\nWhiting A Williams D, ref. 20.\nConnaway L S Dickey T J Radford M L, ref. 19.\nResearch Information Network and Consortium of University Research Libraries, Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services, A Report Commissioned by the Research Information Network and the Consortium of University Research Libraries, 2007, London, Research Information Network and the Consortium of University Research Libraries: <a href="http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/researchers-use-academic-libraries-and-their-serv" target="_blank" >http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/researchers-use-academic-libraries-and-their-serv</a> (accessed 24 October 2014)\nRichardson H, Revelations from the Literature: How Web-Scale Discovery Has Already Changed Us, Computers in Libraries, 2013, 33(4), 12–17.\nConnaway L S Dickey T J Radford M L, ref. 19.\nGallaway T Hines M, Competitive Usability and the Catalogue: A Process for Justification and Selection of a Next-Generation Catalogue or Web-Scale Discovery System, Library Trends, 2012, 61(1), 173–185.\nBreeding M, The State of the Art in Library Discovery, Computers in Libraries, 2010, 30(1), 31–34.\nRichardson H, ref. 26.\n

Downloads

Published

2014-11-03

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3: November 2014

Section

Articles

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2014 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms. If a submission is rejected or withdrawn prior to publication, all rights return to the author(s):

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. Please note if accepted for publication your work will be open access and distributed under a CC-BY Licence, unless previously agreed with Insights Editors before submission.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

Submitting to the journal implicitly confirms that all named authors and rights holders have agreed to the above terms of publication. It is the submitting author's responsibility to ensure all authors and relevant institutional bodies have given their agreement at the point of submission.

Note: some institutions require authors to seek written approval in relation to the terms of publication. Should this be required, authors can request a separate licence agreement document from the editorial team (e.g. authors who are Crown employees).