Maximizing Academic Library Collections: Measuring Changes in Use Patterns Owing to EBSCO Discovery Service

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of academic libraries adopting web-scale discovery tools, few studies have quantified their effect on the use of library collections. This study measures the impact that EBSCO Discovery Service has had on use of library resources through circulation statistics, use of electronic resources, and interlibrary loan requests. Additionally, the data were compared against data from similar academic libraries without discovery systems. Findings include a strong growth in e-journal use but a sharp decline in circulation statistics. Implications of discovery on use of the print collection are discussed along with suggestions for improving integration of book and article data.

Measuring Query Complexity in Web-Scale Discovery: A Comparison between Two Academic Libraries

“…16 Looking at a different discovery service, Calvert alternatively observed a decrease in print circulations after her library implemented EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS). 17 She did, however, notice an increase in abstracts viewed and full text articles retrieved in several of her library's subscription EBSCOhost databases. These studies focused on evaluating possible effects of discovery service adoption on the library's existing collection, but they did not use discovery service usage reports to appraise or improve the collection.…”

The benefits of resource discovery for publishers: a librarian's view

“…19 Furthermore a study of an EDS library, 'confirmed the introduction of a discovery tool has a strong positive effect on e-journal use'. 20 Indeed, in a recent study Levine-Clark, Macdonald and Price 21 found that 'discovery service was the strongest statistically significant variable predicting change in journal usage' and that the 'big 4' resource discovery systems all led to an increase in usage when compared to a 'no discovery' control group.…”

“…Data from Huddersfield supports previous research at two other Summon implementations; 16,17 however, recent research from an EBSCO EDS user found that there was a marked increase in A&I use. 20 In the Huddersfield example, due to budgetary constraints, many multidisciplinary A&I databases were already at risk, as the library would prefer to keep full text over an index of potentially unsubscribed content. As the library was not in a position to continue with a subscription, it is not possible to say whether the implementation of resource discovery would have led to a continued drop in use.…”

Discovering User Behavior: Applying Usage Statistics to Shape Frontline Services

“…This can be difficult to calculate, though, as Discovering User Behavior 5 traditional usage metrics do not always show the big picture of user engagement and the value provided by discovery services (Bennett & Loveland, 2013). Some have tackled the question of discovery service value by assessing whether collection use changed pre-and post-discovery service implementation (Calvert, 2015;O'Hara, 2012;Way, 2010). These studies suggest that discovery service usage does affect user behavior, including use of physical library materials.…”