E-Metrics Definitions
-- Library Journal, 5/1/2004
Return to main article "Capture Usage with E-Metrics."
| Selected E-Metrics and Definitions. | |
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Commercial Services Sessions (NISO 7.8.1.3.2) |
A session is defined as a successful request of a commercial service (e.g., online database). It is one cycle of user activities that typically starts when a user connects to a database and ends by terminating activity in the database that is either explicit (by leaving the database through log-out or exit) or implicit (timeout due to user inactivity). (ISO 2789, Annex A, modified to exclude OPAC sessions). Note 1: For multiple databases compiling several individual databases further information should be provided as to the separate databases hosted. Note 2: In some cases, e.g. database use inside the library, several users one after the other might make use of the same workstation, and sessions could not be separated. In most systems, a session is cut off after a specified time of non-use, thus avoiding part of the problem. The average timeout setting would be 30 minutes. If another timeout period is used this should be reported. Browser or proxy cashing will be likely to reduce the number of requests registered in log files. |
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Commercial Services Searches (queries) (NISO 7.8.1.2.2) |
A search is defined as intending to represent a unique intellectual inquiry. Typically a search is recorded every time a search request is submitted to the server. Limited to commercial services. Mistyped search strings do not represent unique intellectual inquiries. Include menu selection searches. Exclude spider/crawler searches. (ISO 2789, Annex A) |
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Commercial Services Full-Content Units Examined (NISO 7.8.1.1.2) |
Number of subscription service full-content units examined, downloaded, or otherwise supplied to user, to the extent that these are recordable and controlled by the server rather than the browser. (ICOLC Guidelines, December 2001). Note 1: Journal articles by journal title with ISSN and title listed. Note 2: E-books by book title with ISBN and title listed. Note 3: Reference materials by content unit appropriate to the resource (e.g., dictionary definitions, encyclopedia articles, biographies, etc.). Note 4: Non-textual resources by file type as appropriate to resources (e.g., image, audio, video, etc.). (ICOLC Guidelines, December 2001) |
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Commercial services descriptive records examined (NISO 7.8.1.1.4) |
Number of descriptive records concerning the library's commercial services delivered to a user. Determined by the record type appropriate to the resource, e.g., abstract, archive, index. Exclude OPAC or library collection descriptive records (i.e., library website services and collections). |
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Rejected Sessions (turnaways) (NISO 7.8.1.4) |
A rejected session (turnaway) is defined as an unsuccessful log-in to an electronic service by exceeding the simultaneous user limit. (ISO 2789, Annex A) Excludes failure of log-in because of wrong passwords. |
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Virtual Reference Transactions (NISO 7.3.1) |
Virtual reference transactions conducted via e-mail, website, or other network-based medium designed to support virtual reference. (ARL E-metrics; Bertot, McClure, Ryan). Note: Includes questions either received or responded to. |
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Formal User Information Technology Instruction (NISO 7.9.2) |
A count of the number of users instructed and the hours of instruction offered in the use of information technology or resources obtainable using information technology in structured sessions either delivered in the library using a computer lab or other instructional setting or delivered electronically through online-based instruction. (Bertot, McClure, Davis). |
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Point-of-Use Information Technology Instruction (NISO 7.9.4) |
A count of the number of users instructed and the hours of instruction offered in the use of information technology or resources obtainable using information technology in unstructured sessions at the impromptu request of users. |
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Virtual Visits (NISO 7.8.1.5) |
A user's request of the library web site from outside the library premises regardless of the number of pages or items viewed. (ISO 2789, 3.3.25) Excludes web site visits from within the library. Note: This statistic is the equivalent of a session for a library's website. As such, there is a need to exclude various actions (e.g., hits, downloads) by users during any given visit. |
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Electronic Access Expenditures (NISO 6.2.8) |
All operating expenditures from the library budget associated with access to electronic materials and services. Include computer hardware and software used to support library operations, whether purchased or leased, mainframe and microcomputer. Includes expenditures for maintenance. Includes expenditures for equipment used to run information service products when that expenditure cannot be separated from the price of the product. Includes expenditures for services provided by national, regional, and local bibliographic utilities, networks, consortia and commercial services. Includes all fees and usage costs associated with such services as OCLC FirstSearch or electronic document delivery. Excludes capital expenditures. |
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Electronic Materials Expenditures (NISO 6.2.9) |
Operating expenditures for electronic (digital) materials. Types of electronic materials include e-books, e-serials (including journals), government documents, databases (including locally mounted, full text or not), electronic files, reference tools, scores, maps, or pictures in electronic or digital format, including materials digitized by the library. Electronic materials can be distributed on magnetic tape, diskettes, computer software, CD-ROM, or other portable digital carrier, and can be accessed via a computer, via access to the Internet, or by using an e-book reader. Include equipment expenditures that are inseparably bundled into the price of the information service product; expenditures for materials held locally and for remote electronic materials for which permanent or temporary access rights have been acquired; and expenditures for database licenses. Note: Based on ISO 2789 and FSCS definitions. |
