MINES for Libraries Measuring the Impact of Networked Electronic Services

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MINES for LibrariesMeasuring the Impact of
Networked Electronic Services
ARL New Measures
Brinley Franklin
Vice Provost
University of Connecticut Libraries
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What is Mines?
Measuring the Impact of Networked Electronic
Services (MINES) is a research methodology
consisting of a web-based survey form and a
sampling plan. MINES measures who is using
electronic resources, where users are located at
the time of use, and their purpose of use. MINES
was adopted by the Association of Research
Libraries (ARL) as part of the New Measures
toolkit in May, 2003. MINES is different from
other electronic resource usage measures because
most studies of electronic information usage have
been related to usage counts (e.g., COUNTER,
EQUINOX, E-metrics, ICOLC Guidelines, ISO and
NISO standards) or how well a library makes
electronic resources accessible (LibQualTM).
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Recent MINES Collection Activities

• Data was collected at seven main campus libraries
  and seven academic health science libraries,
  between January, 2003 and January, 2005.
• At each library, the real-time MINES survey was
  one component of a comprehensive cost analysis
  study that assigned all library costs to
  sponsored research, instruction/education/non-spon
  sored research, patient care, other sponsored
  activities and other activities.
• More than 45,000 networked electronic service
  users were surveyed.
• MINES is also being conducted by the Ontario
  Council of University Libraries (OCUL) in
  conjunction with ARL in 2004-2005.

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Questions Addressed by MINES

• How extensively do sponsored researchers use the
  new digital information environment?
• Are researchers more likely to use networked
  electronic resources from inside or outside the
  library?
• Are there differences in usage of electronic
  information based on the users location (e.g.,
  in the library on-campus, but not in the
  library or off-campus)?
• How does purpose of use (e.g., sponsored
  research, instruction, patient care) differ
  between electronic services use and traditional
  library services (e.g., print collections,
  reference services, etc.)?
• What is a statistically valid methodology for
  capturing electronic services usage both in the
  library and remotely through web surveys?
• Are particular network configurations more
  conducive to studies of networked electronic
  services use?

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MINES Methodological Considerations

• A representative sampling plan, including sample
  size, is determined at the outset. Typically,
  there are 48 hours of surveying over 12 months at
  a medical library and 24 hours a year at a main
  library.
• Random moment/web-based surveys is employed at
  each site.
• Participation is mandatory, negating
  non-respondent bias, and is based on actual use
  in real-time.
• Libraries with database-to-web gateways or proxy
  re-writers offer the most comprehensive
  networking solution for surveying all networked
  services users during survey periods.

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MINESWeb-based User Survey
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MINESWeb-based User Survey
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MINESWeb-based User Survey
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MINESWeb-based User Survey
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MINES Data, 2003 - 2005 Purpose of Use By
Location 7 Medical Libraries
On-Campus, Not in Library
In The Library
Off-Campus
Overall Use
83 of sponsored research usage of electronic
resources occurred outside the library, 92 of
this use took place on-campus.
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MINES DATA 2003 - 2005Purpose of Use By
Location Main Campus Libraries
In The Library
Outside The Library
All Usage
Outside The Library
72 of sponsored research usage of electronic
resources occurred outside the library 83 of
this took place on campus.
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MINES DATA 2003 - 2005Location of Users
Medical Library
Main Library
All Libraries
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brinley.franklin_at_uconn.edu http//www.lib.uconn.ed
u/bfranklin/xxxxxxx