Purpose: Presents a software system statistics generator, with configurable reports for decision making in the digital collections development, through the processing of log files generated by an EZproxy server.
Design / methodology / approach: This case study was written after implementing the software GESAR into the DGB-UNAM remote access service. The followed procedure was: process the log files generated by an EZproxy server and store the resulted information in three relationships within a relational database containing institutional catalogs (electronic resources providers, users, communities, campi, among others). In the present case, 159 statistical reports on the use of electronic resources were defined, with the option to define a larger amount. Then, through a graphical interface statistical reports were displayed in HTML and Microsoft Excel format, what makes possible to filter the information in different ways, making the number of displayed reports virtually uncountable.
Findings: Although GESAR was designed for an EZproxy server, it can easily be adapted to any website. By analyzing statistical reports, it was found what kind of users accessed what resources, on what date and time, as well as the physical locations from where access was performed. This analysis allowed us to discover certain anomalies in the use of electronic resources by some users.
Originality / value: GESAR incorporates two new features not provided by any other similar tool: a) it generates reports based on users’ needs. b) utilization of a database with institutional catalogs to generate reports. The usage data allow to visualize who, where, when and what resources were consulted. The analyzed data universe was 263 million access records and 171,000 users.
Keywords / topics: web analytics, transaction log analysis, web log analysis, log file analysis, log processing, statistics web sites, log analysis, collections management, library users, online databases.
Publication Type: Case Stud
