InfoTech: EBSCO Releases SUSHI Server

Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 09/16/2008

• Facilitates automated retrieval of data from EBSCOhost databases
• In compliance with COUNTER code of practice release 2
• Saves countless hours of staff time

Librarians buried under manual aggregation of usage stats will be thrilled to know that EBSCO September 15 announced the release of a server supporting the Standard Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative (SUSHI), which the company said, “facilitates automated retrieval of data from EBSCOhost databases in compliance with the COUNTER Code of Practice.” COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources) simplifies the recording and exchange of online usage statistics, and SUSHI then builds on that “by allowing completely automated request and delivery of COUNTER compliant usage reports.”

Cornell University Library’s Adam Chandler, who co-chairs the SUSHI working group and sits on the COUNTER Executive Committee, said that “SUSHI ensures that usage information is updated in a timely manner and saves countless hours of staff time. Implementation of Z39.93 for the EBSCOhost service is a milestone. Automating the collection of COUNTER usage data lowers the cost of processing for libraries and frees up more time for analysis of the data. We appreciate EBSCO’s leadership in this area.” EBSCO is in strict compliance with release 2 of the COUNTER code of practice.