PDA Event: Using Data Intentionally: Cost, Context, and Collection Decisions With Usage Statistics

Once you understand the basics, the real work begins. This webinar is Part II of a two-part series on usage statistics, designed for public and academic library staff who already collect usage data and are ready to dig deeper into analysis and decision-making.

Building on the foundational concepts introduced in Part I on February 5, this advanced session explores strategies for working with data from multiple sources, including NC LIVE resources and locally funded databases, and addresses common challenges such as manual cleanup and normalization. The session takes a closer look at metrics like cost per search, examining both their usefulness and their limitations, and discusses why low usage alone should not automatically trigger cancellation conversations.

Participants will learn how to analyze usage in context, identify patterns across different types of databases, and develop more intentional, values-driven approaches to evaluating and promoting e-resources—especially in an era of tightening collections budgets.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze usage statistics from multiple sources (including consortial and locally funded resources) while accounting for differences in platforms, metrics, and data quality.
• Evaluate common decision-making metrics, such as cost per use, by identifying their strengths, limitations, and appropriate use in collections assessment.
• Apply a contextual approach to e-resource evaluation, using usage patterns, qualitative factors, and institutional priorities to inform renewal, promotion, and budget decisions.

Presenter: Anna Allen is the Electronic Resources Librarian at the State Library of North Carolina

Register to attend

Hosted by NC LIVE