Seeing the Forest by Counting the Trees

Libraries, particularly academic libraries, are swimming in a sea of data. Librarians often contribute to this by counting every possible patron interaction in an attempt to both define their current situation and to predict future staffing, budgetary, and collection needs. This investigation assessed the effectiveness of using various data sources in predicting future library activity and needs. The authors collected data on in-person and chat reference transactions, electronic journal downloads, database queries, and catalog searches from 2009–12. By analyzing these data points, the authors hypothesized they would find correlations that might be predictive of changes in related library services. Results indicated that the strongest correlations track activity over the course of the academic calendar. While none of the data points examined had predictive properties, the strong correlations between the data points over the period of time studied indicated that any one of them might serve as a stand-alone indicator of usage

The Value of Purchasing E-Books From a Large Publisher: A Usage-based Analysis of Oxford University Press E-Books

Presentation given at the Acquisitions Institute (Timberline) on May 20, 2012. Usage analysis of Oxford University Press e-books at Miami University Libraries

Keep the Change: Clusters of Faculty Opinion on Open Access

The authors discovered faculty opinions about open access by employing Q methodology, a research method combining qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze subjects' attitudes about a given topic. Q methodology, using three main steps, identifies and isolates opinion types. The first step is the collection of subjective statements, largely from qualitative interviews. The next step, called the Q-sort, involves subjects sorting these statements along a continuum. Finally, Q-sort results are analyzed using a statistical technique called factor analysis. Using specialized software, factor analysis generates clusters of opinions. In this Q study, factor analysis revealed three distinct factors that outlined clusters of faculty opinions about open access. The authors described these factors as “Evangelists,” “Pragmatists,” and “Traditionalists.” Each of these factors represents a group of faculty on Miami University’s Oxford campus who hold specific attitudes and opinions regarding open access. Implications for future library initiatives implementing open access programs, services, and policies are discussed, as are directions for additional research

Narrowcasting to Faculty and Students: Creating an Efficient “Research by Subject” Page

Abstract Libraries provide thousands of e-resources, but most users need only a handful. Miami University has created an interface which enables subject specialists to select from electronic resources provided by the Libraries, add links to related resources, and post announcements in each subject area. In addition, subject specialists can create multi-database searches for each subject area. Subject specialists can make immediate changes, web developers are relieved of reviewing and making changes submitted by others, and students and faculty see the resources they need. The University portal will eventually link to subject areas corresponding each students’ classes and faculty member’s teaching area

Are E-Book Big Deal Bundles Still Valuable?

The academic e‐book market has undergone significant change in the last five years. E‐book availability has greatly increased as library demand has grown, with an increasing percentage of library acquisitions preferring electronic rather than print format. E‐book acquisition models like patron‐driven acquisition and short‐term loan have now become commonplace and available from a multitude of consortia, publishers, and aggregators. With the wide availability of these models, is there still value in buying e‐books through package deals? To help answer this question, we will present the results of a usage‐based analysis of Wiley e‐books. Since 2012, Miami University Libraries have purchased Wiley e‐book collections through a consortial OhioLINK contract. Previously purchased OhioLINK e‐book collections have been accessible to patrons through both OhioLINK’s Electronic Book Center platform and the publisher platform. The Wiley e‐book purchase deviates from previous practice by being available to patrons only on the publisher platform and our analysis is therefore focused on COUNTER e‐book usage reports from the Wiley platform. We also augment the usage data with title‐level information, such as subject and book type. This preliminary study focuses on the 2012 Wiley collection and its use over a three‐year period (2012‐2014) and will include data‐driven findings presented in visually useful ways

11 digital publishing trends to watch this year and their potential impact on libraries

Presented at Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) National Forum, Columbus, OH

Are E-Book Big Deal Bundles Still Valuable?

The academic e‐book market has undergone significant change in the last five years. E‐book availability has greatly increased as library demand has grown, with an increasing percentage of library acquisitions preferring electronic rather than print format. E‐book acquisition models like patron‐driven acquisition and short‐term loan have now become commonplace and available from a multitude of consortia, publishers, and aggregators. With the wide availability of these models, is there still value in buying e‐books through package deals? To help answer this question, we will present the results of a usage‐based analysis of Wiley e‐books. Since 2012, Miami University Libraries have purchased Wiley e‐book collections through a consortial OhioLINK contract. Previously purchased OhioLINK e‐book collections have been accessible to patrons through both OhioLINK’s Electronic Book Center platform and the publisher platform. The Wiley e‐book purchase deviates from previous practice by being available to patrons only on the publisher platform and our analysis is therefore focused on COUNTER e‐book usage reports from the Wiley platform. We also augment the usage data with title‐level information, such as subject and book type. This preliminary study focuses on the 2012 Wiley collection and its use over a three‐year period (2012‐2014) and will include data‐driven findings presented in visually useful ways

Contradictions and Consensus — Clusters of Opinions on E-books

Q methodology was used to determine attitudes and opinions about e-books among a group of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates at Miami University of Ohio. Oral interviews formed the basis for a collection of opinion statements concerning e-books versus print. These statements were then ranked by a second group of research participants. Factor analysis of these rankings found four distinct factors that reveal clusters of opinions on e-books: Book Lovers, Technophiles, Pragmatists, and Printers. Two of the four factors take a more ideological approach in their understanding of e-books: Book Lovers have an emotional attachment to the printed book as an object, while Technophiles feel just as strongly about technology. In contrast, the other two factors are more utilitarian: Printers might find e-books more palatable if usability were improved, while Pragmatists are comfortable with both print and e-book formats

Contradictions and Consensus: Clusters of Opinions on E-books

Q methodology was used to determine attitudes and opinions about e-books among a group of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates at Miami University of Ohio. Oral interviews formed the basis for a collection of opinion statements concerning e-books versus print. These statements were then ranked by a second group of research participants. Factor analysis of these rankings found four distinct factors that reveal clusters of opinions on e-books: Book Lovers, Technophiles, Pragmatists, and Printers. Two of the four factors take a more ideological approach in their understanding of e-books: Book Lovers have an emotional attachment to the printed book as an object, while Technophiles feel just as strongly about technology. In contrast, the other two factors are more utilitarian: Printers might find e-books more palatable if usability were improved, while Pragmatists are comfortable with both print and e-book formats

Book Lovers, Technophiles, Printers and Pragmatists: The Social and Demographic Structure of User Attitudes toward e-Books

Q-methodology was used to identify clusters of opinions about e-books at Miami University. The research identified four distinct opinion types among those investigated: Book Lovers, Technophiles, Pragmatists, and Printers. The initial Q-methodology study results were then used as a basis for a large-n survey of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty so that we could have a more complete picture of the demographic and social makeup of the campus population. Results from that survey indicate that academic discipline is strongly associated with the respondents’ opinion types. Gender and educational status are also associated with respondents’ opinion types