From: "Hamaker, Charles" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:23:34 +0000

I’m in a bit of a quandary about what to do about search statistics
from Discovery services.

I can’t find anywhere a definition that includes them, yet when I look
at some of what we are receiving from our vendors, I can’t EXCLUDE
them from the stats  to determine individual database usage either.

What is being requested.. (these originally were in the ARL supplemental stats)

Number of successful full-text article requests (journals)

Number of regular searches (databases)

Number of federated searches (databases)

When you look at the ARL supplemental definitions, it says:

“Questions 18-20.  Use of Electronic Resources.  Items reported should
follow definitions as defined in  the COUNTER Code of Practice
(www.projectcounter.org). In a footnote, please include the types of
resources for which you are reporting data.  It is recommend that ONLY
data that follow the COUNTER definitions be reported. Any exceptions
should be documented in a footnote.”

And when you go to the COUNTER pages, the list of “known” federated
search engines while quite lengthy does not include the discovery
services.

Any thoughts welcome.

Chuck

Charles Hamaker M.L.S | Associate University Librarian Collection
Development and Electronic Resources
UNC Charlotte | J. Murrey Atkins Library
9201 University City Blvd. | Charlotte, NC 28223
Phone: 704-687-1106 | Fax: 704-687-0890
[log in to unmask] | http://library.uncc.edu/