Augmenting discovery data and analytics to enhance library services

Abstract

Discovery services have become a norm in academic libraries. Usage data from these services has historically emphasized quantitative data such as full-text downloads, numbers of searches performed and title usage. Okanagan College Library incorporated Google Analytics into their discovery service in order to go beyond vendor-supplied quantitative data and obtain valuable qualitative information about users. This information can now be used to shape library services such as collection development, public services and interface design. The user-behaviour data findings are presented, along with suggestions for using this information to enhance library services.