[Web4lib] Question 16b on ARL Supplemental Statistics

[Janice Christopher]

This year, I finally saw the form for the first time, instead of someone just asking me for the data...

In the past we've answered this question with the count of the total number of *searches* of the catalog.  This includes staff searches via the OPAC web client, multiple searches from a single session, etc.  (This gives UConn 1.3 million or so.)

The paragraph at the bottom of this section of the ARL form says something like (I'm paraphrasing here) "a virtual visit is one that originates outside the library."  It wasn't clear to me whether an *individual search* or a *search session* (under a single process ID) constitutes a "visit."

Our OPAC logger records the IP address associated with a search [potentially serious civil liberties and privacy issues arise here, but that's a policy discussion].  With a little bit of work I could count the number of searches/sessions originating off-campus; with a little more work, and a list of all the library's subnets, I could count the number of searches/sessions originating from outside the library.

janice
-------------
Janice Christopher
Catalog Management Librarian
University of Connecticut
Homer Babbidge Library
369 Fairfield Road, U-2005
Storrs, Connecticut  06269-2005
860.486.2636
janice.christopher at uconn.edu
 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Micah Stevens
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 6:50 PM
> To: K.G. Schneider
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Question 16b on ARL Supplemental Statistics
> 
> 
> Is this a visit as opposed to a 'hit'? They are different. Why it's 
> referred to as virtual is beyond me though.
> -Micah
> 
> On 01/11/2007 01:03 PM, K.G. Schneider wrote:
> > Ok, I sort of have a handle on the answer, but I am bemused 
> by question
> > 16b of the ARL Supplemental Statistics:
> >
> > "Number of virtual visits to library's catalog." 
> >
> > I am probably thinking too hard and should just plug in numbers as
> > requested and be done with it, but I am trying to understand a) as
> > opposed to what (is there a way to visit our catalog, other than
> > virtually?), b) what a "visit" is--no really, not just what they say
> > here or in COUNTER or NISO metrics, but what a visit really 
> *is*, and c)
> > how many people think I am spending too much time worrying 
> about this.
> >
> > K.G. Schneider
> > kgs at bluehighways.com 
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