[Web4lib] NISO to Hold Forum on Understanding the Data Around Us -- Two Day Event on Usage Data

[Cynthia Hodgson]

NISO to Hold Forum on Understanding the Data Around Us
Amigos Cosponsoring Two-Day Event on Gathering and Analyzing Usage Data

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and Amigos 
Library Services will host a forum on /Understanding the Data Around Us: 
Gathering and Analyzing Usage Data/, to be held November 1-2 at the 
Magnolia Hotel in Dallas, Texas. This two-day event asks library and 
information service providers to think about what kinds of usage data -- 
for e-resources, print, and more -- can be used to help improve the 
provision of information services, what data might be missing, and ways 
all parties involved (libraries, publishers, aggregators, and system 
vendors) can best use the data collected. The event includes speakers 
who will discuss issues of gathering, analyzing, and applying usage 
data, and encourages the audience to engage with questions of their own.

Topics to be addressed include:

    * Environmental scan on usage data: What data is being collected and
      why? What's missing?
    * COUNTER: Learn about COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of NeTworked 
      Electronic Resources) and how the Codes of Practice improve the
      reliability of online usage statistics.
    * Library Perspective: How is data collected and what administrative
      questions does it answer?
    * Publisher Perspective: How is data collected and disseminated, and
      how does it affect sales and pricing?
    * Aggregator Perspective: How is data compiled from disparate
      content providers, and what reporting is being done?
    * SUSHI: Learn how the SUSHI (Standardized Usage Statistics
      Harvesting Initiative) protocol can automate the retrieval of
      COUNTER and other usage statistics.
    * Case Study: The large-scale harvesting of electronic resources
      usage data in a collaboration between a data aggregator, software
      provider, and academic library.
    * Next steps: Once you have data, what do you do with it? Learn 
      about applications of usage data, including impact on collection
      decisions, services, and quality rankings.


Registration is now open. The early bird discount closes October 18th. 
NISO and Amigos members are eligible for substantial discounts. Visit 
the event webpage (http://www.niso.org/news/events_workshops/usage07/ l) 
for more information or contact Karen Wetzel, NISO Standards Program 
Manager, at kwetzel at niso.org <mailto:kwetzel at niso.org>.

Amigos Library Services is a cosponsor with NISO of the forum and Ex 
Libris is a major sponsor. Additional sponsors are Innovative 
Interfaces, Serials Solutions, and Thomson Scientific.


Cynthia Hodgson
NISO Technical Editor Consultant
National Information Standards Organization
Email: chodgson at niso.org
Phone: 301-654-2512