Demand-Driven E-books + Usage Data = Informed Collection Development
Start Date
4-5-2012 12:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2012 12:00 AM
Description
With preliminary analyses of usage data from the EBook Library (EBL) demand-driven acquisitions program, this presentation will illustrate how a large, urban university library can process the data provided by an electronic book vendor to creatively learn more about its users and their general e-book usage patterns.
San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library implemented a demand-driven acquisition program on March 1, 2011. The goals of this program were multi-fold: 1) to make electronically available a wide collection of items without concurrency limits or upfront costs, 2) meet users’ needs on a timely basis, 3) and maximize the collections budget by purchasing materials as needed and selected by University users.
In September 2011, SJSU’s Library implemented a simple widget that requested demographic data from its EBL users to further understand its user base. Users identified their status (i.e., faculty, staff, or student) and area of discipline. Correlating these data points with EBL-usage statistics, SJSU librarians and staff have begun to question the validity of long-held assumptions about the habits and needs of its users.
Evaluating vendor-provided statistics allows librarians to identify usage trends to innovatively meet users’ needs in the area of collection development. Analyzed data can inform collection development, specifically which subjects may be complemented by the e-book format. Usage statistics can also indicate how e-books are being used across the campus community and disciplines.
This presentation will present the process, methods, and findings of SJSU’s first two semesters using a demand-driven acquisition program.
Demand-Driven E-books + Usage Data = Informed Collection Development
With preliminary analyses of usage data from the EBook Library (EBL) demand-driven acquisitions program, this presentation will illustrate how a large, urban university library can process the data provided by an electronic book vendor to creatively learn more about its users and their general e-book usage patterns.
San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library implemented a demand-driven acquisition program on March 1, 2011. The goals of this program were multi-fold: 1) to make electronically available a wide collection of items without concurrency limits or upfront costs, 2) meet users’ needs on a timely basis, 3) and maximize the collections budget by purchasing materials as needed and selected by University users.
In September 2011, SJSU’s Library implemented a simple widget that requested demographic data from its EBL users to further understand its user base. Users identified their status (i.e., faculty, staff, or student) and area of discipline. Correlating these data points with EBL-usage statistics, SJSU librarians and staff have begun to question the validity of long-held assumptions about the habits and needs of its users.
Evaluating vendor-provided statistics allows librarians to identify usage trends to innovatively meet users’ needs in the area of collection development. Analyzed data can inform collection development, specifically which subjects may be complemented by the e-book format. Usage statistics can also indicate how e-books are being used across the campus community and disciplines.
This presentation will present the process, methods, and findings of SJSU’s first two semesters using a demand-driven acquisition program.
