Evaluating Usage and Impact of Networked Electronic Resources through Point-of-Use Surveys: A MINES for Libraries™ Study

Abstract

This article presents a literature review of methods for evaluating serials, or networked electronic resources, usage, and focuses on point-of-use intercept Web surveys. In the context of the MINES for Libraries protocol administered by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and derived from the indirect cost study methodologies developed by Franklin and Plum, the article discusses a variety of point-of-use Web survey implementation methodologies used in libraries. It discusses sampling plan options and articulates issues related to the mandatory and optional versions of the point-of-use Web survey protocols with an emphasis on nonresponse bias. The article provides a set of methods that libraries can use to continue to evaluate their networked electronic services in innovative ways to better serve the research, teaching, and learning needs of their users.

KEYWORDS:

• MINES for Libraries
• Association of Research Libraries
• statistics
• assessment
• Web surveys
• digital libraries
• networked electronic resources
• sampling plans
• response rates
• point-of-use surveys
• transaction surveys
• library effectiveness

Notes

This article is based in part on two presentations: Plum, Franklin, Kyrillidou, Roebuck, and Davis (2008) and Kyrillidou, Plum and Thompson (2009).