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Abstract
This article reports the results of an analysis of five Big Deal electronic journal packages to which Hofstra University's Axinn Library subscribes. COUNTER usage reports were used to judge the value of each Big Deal. Limitations of usage statistics are also discussed. In the end, the author concludes that four of the five Big Deals are good deals for Hofstra University, offers suggestions for using usage statistics, and stresses the importance of each library making its own judgment as to the value and sustainability of Big Deal journal packages.
Acknowledgments
© Sarah Glasser
Notes
It is difficult to know exactly what was tracked at all times throughout the year analyzed (2011), because the library uses a proprietary link resolver, and title lists are often updated throughout the year. That said, it seems reasonable to conclude that if the library did not know a title was included in a subscribed package, it did not make the title discoverable to its patrons (although they could still come across the content through browsing within the publisher site or through other means such as linking from Google).