Usage statistics collection and management in the ELINOR electronic library

Abstract

Usage statistics collection and management in an electronic library environment is concerned with tracking, managing, analysing and reporting information resource usages by the electronic library users for various management purposes, such as copyright management and usage pattern monitor ing. Usage statistics data are summaries of resource usage events. Conventional data modelling methods which focus on ‘reality’ or ‘situation’ cannot be applied directly to usage statistics data. Finding a suitable database structure to store the usage statistics data so that queries on usage statistics can be supported efficiently is thus a major problematic issue in designing a usage statistics management subsystem. Another major concern for electronic library systems with out built-in usage statistics collection facilities, such as in the case of ELINOR, or for systems with such a facility but where the collected information is not detailed enough to match the requirements, is how to get hold of the relevant resource usage events which are generated as a by-product of resource uses. This paper presents the modelling, analy sis, design and the architecture of the usage statistics col lection and management subsystem of the ELINOR electronic library. Principles in general, as well as practical implementation issues, are discussed. © 1995, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.