Glossary

Tips and guidance on how to best utilise eResource statistics and reports.

An overview of terms and phrases used in eResource usage statistics.

Abstract requests

Number of times an abstract is requested. In EBSCO if a user hovers over the Abstract Preview feature, it will count as an abstract request.

Book requests/journal requests

Fulltext activity for non Gold Open Access eBooks /eJournals.

Book/journal usage by access type

Investigations and requests for eBooks or eJournals.

Database search and item usage

Total item investigations and requests, as well as searches.

Database/journal/book access denied

Shows where users were denied access to databases.

Database usage

Sessions, searches, and requests logged for each databases.

Full-text requests

Number of times the full text is requested.

Interface usage

The interfaces, such a Discovery from which a search of databases was conducted.

Limit exceeded

Access denied statistic, counted when a user is unable to access a unique content item because their institution’s cap on the number of simultaneous users has been exceeded.

Link-out requests

Number of times a link takes you to a site external to the current site. If for example you are using EDS and the full-text is available from CINAHL, it would not count as a link-out, whereas a link to the Science Direct site would.

No license

Access denied statistic, counted when a user is unable to access a unique content item because their institution does not have a license to the content.

Platform search

Asingle search across three databases will add 1 to platform search and 1 to each of the three databases used.

Platform usage

Total and unique item requests, as well as platform searches. A platform is a supplier’s interface for searching resources, for example, Elton B Stephens Company EBSCOhost, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), or British Medical Journal (BMJ) Best Practice.

Searches automated

The number of times a user searches a database, when it has not been actively selected.

Searches federated

The number of times a search is run remotely by a computer, i.e. not via platform. For example when searching using an API.

Searches platform

The number of searches on a supplier platform regardless of whether automated or regular. Wil not include federated.

Searches regular

The number of times a user searches a database, when they have actively chosen that database from a list of options OR there is only one database available to search.

Sessions

Counts the number of sessions. A session starts at login and stops at log out. One session may include multiple searches or requests.

Title usage

Request for content for each title in the collections purchased.

Total item investigations

The total number of times a content item or information related to a content item was accessed.

Total item requests

Total number of times the full text of an item (journal or book) was viewed, downloaded, printed or emailed.

Total requests

Total of all requests, whether full-text, abstract or linkout.

Total searches

All searches, whether regular or platform.

Turnaways

Number of times access to a resource is denied.

Unique item investigations

Consolidates all investigations of the same item within the same session into a single count.

Unique item requests

Consolidates all requests of the same item within the same session into a single count. Item could be an article, book or chapter.

Unique title investigations

Consolidates all investigations of the same title within the same session into a single count.

Unique title requests

Consolidates all requests of the same item within the same session into a single count. Titles are journals or books.