What Can Be Learned From Usage Data

OCLC Online Computer Library Center

What Can Be Learned From

Usage DataLynn Silipigni ConnawayResearch Scientist

Mark BendigSystems Analyst

ASIST 2003 Annual ConferenceOctober 22, 2003

What Can Be LearnedWhat Can Be LearnedWhat is being accessed– Subject areas– Types of content– Publishers of content

Depth of access– Perusing– In-depth reading– Number of items accessed– Number of screens/pages accessed

Patterns of access– When accessed– Length of use/activity– Movements within the site and the text

• System and interface design

Limitations of Usage DataLimitations of Usage Data

Do not know – Who the users are

• Usually cannot associate user demographics with usage patterns

– Where they get access to the resources– How they use resources– Why they use resources

Massive amounts of data to manipulate

netLibrary Subject AreasnetLibrary Subject Areas

Accesses by ARL LibrariesAccesses by ARL Libraries

Accesses by Academic LibrariesAccesses by Academic Libraries

Accesses by Public LibrariesAccesses by Public Libraries

Accesses by Special LibrariesAccesses by Special Libraries

Accesses by Federal LibrariesAccesses by Federal Libraries

Accesses by School LibrariesAccesses by School Libraries

netLibrary Site ActivitynetLibrary Site Activity

Unique Users– Tues., 2/26/02 = 3796– Wed., 2/26/03 = 8789

Total Sessions– Tues., 2/26/02 = 3989– Wed., 2/26/03 = 9458

netLibrary Session DurationsnetLibrary Session Durations

netLibrary Login TimesnetLibrary Login Times

Books Viewed Per SessionBooks Viewed Per Session

Books Viewed Per SessionBooks Viewed Per Session

Minimum Maximum Average

2/26/02 1 31 1.27

2/26/03 1 650 1.42

Pages Viewed Per BookPages Viewed Per Book

Pages Viewed Per BookPages Viewed Per Book

Minimum Maximum Average

2/26/02 1 594 13.41

2/26/03 3 722 13.61

Pages Viewed Per SessionPages Viewed Per Session

Pages Viewed Per SessionPages Viewed Per Session

Minimum Maximum Average

2/26/02 7 594 17.15

2/26/03 1 1508 19.34

Data InterpretationData Interpretation

Increase in number of users

Increase in duration of sessions

Little difference in– Books viewed per session– Pages viewed per session– Pages viewed per book

Peak usage times correlate with time most libraries are open and available– Need to distinguish differences in time zones

Future ResearchFuture ResearchIdentify the whys and hows of user satisficing of information needs– Online survey– Focus group interviews– Structured field observations– Structured interviews

Continue to collect, analyze, and compare transaction log data– Users’ geographical location– Identify books per unique user– Correlate data sets

OCLC Online Computer Library Center

Questions and Discussion

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