From: VGIBBONS@THINK2.LAKEHEADU.CA
Subject: (none)
Reply-To: VGIBBONS@THINK2.LAKEHEADU.CA
Organization: FUNET-NGW
Distribution: alt
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 14:31:00 GMT

SUMMARY -- Keeping CD-ROM Statistics


I have had a number of requests for the results of my query
regarding statistics on CD-ROM usage so here is a summary.
I have also included my own response for Lakehead University
for those interested.

P.S. - I'd like to thank all those who took the time to
       respond.

1)      Three out of ten respondents reported using a
        software program called "DIRECT ACCESS" It keeps
        statistics on the disc used, time used (start, finish,
        duration), the program used (SilverPlatter, Dialog,etc.)
        and the user. Direct Access is also a menu building
        utility with a virus detector.

   **   I have included the ordering information for Direct
        Access at the end of the summary!

2)      A few organizations take their statistics from programs
        that accompany their cd-rom software (InfoTrac, Dialog).
        Statistics are available for the type of disc used and
        the length of time it was used but nothing on the user.

        Two organizations reported having LANs in place and in
        these cases they relied on the statistics packages
        as part of the LAN software (SilverPlatter's MultiPlatter
        and Saber's LAN Administrator).

3)      A number of respondents stated that they take their
        statistics from manual log sheets (sheets users sign
        to reserve workstations or cd-rom discs). These statistics
        are not very accurate because users fail to show up for
        reserved slots or do not bother to reserve a slot before
        using the workstations.

4)      One individual has edited the batch files for each of the
        CD-ROMs. The program logs each CD-ROM use including the
        time started and the time finished. This information is
        stored in a separate log file which can then be put into
        a spreadsheet.  (Iain Noble, Main Site Library, University
        of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Cleveland TS1 3BA, UK.)

        BITNET: LBA002%lib.tees.ac.uk@UKACRL
        INTERNET: LBA002%lib.tees.ac.uk@cunyvm.cuny.edu
        JANET: LBA002@uk.ac.tees.lib

5)      Someone at Wollongong University in Australia has written
        a package that asks the user to answer a questionaire when
        they access the CD-ROM system. The answers are written to a
        file which can be viewed with another program that compiles a
        summary giving the number of users, etc. (program is called
        "CDSTATS".).

        (I heard about this from Tim Wise,SYSOP BSF1 (Novell),
        Division of Business and Information Management, BALLARAT
        UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, MT HELEN, Ballarat 3350, Victoria
        Australia.)

        E-Mail: tjw@bsf1.buc.edu.au  or tjw@nova.but.edu.au


LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY
-------------------

Here is my answer to the CD-ROM statistics question. We are very big on
stats here at Lakehead.  We have tried a number of different methods
for keeping accurate!! statistics.


We have 4 standalone CD-ROM workstations with two printers and twelve
CD-ROM subscriptions. Our CD-ROMs are kept at the Circulation Desk. Each
disk has been catalogued and barcoded so they can be signed out through
our automated circulation system.

Users must sign-up on a reservation sheet choosing a workstation and
stating the disc they will be using (this helps avoid double bookings for
a single CD-ROM disc).

From reports generated by our automated Circ. system, we can only get the
total number of CD-ROM uses in a month.

We have installed "Direct Access" on each of our CD-ROM workstations and
have configured it so that each time a user accesses the system, they must
choose 1) a user type (faculty, grad, undergrad, etc) 2) the system used
(SilverPlatter, Wilsondisc, etc) 3) the disc used (PsycLit, Business
Periodicals Index).

Direct Access allows me to generate reports for any specified time period.
It offers a primary and secondary sort option so statistics can be
arranged by user type, date, system or disc.

This all sounds great but I do have a few problems:

1) Users fail to exit the cd-rom systems properly so the next logon is
   not recorded.
2) Students (mostly) have difficulty deciding which user type applies to
   them or they think it is amusing to log in as faculty.
3) For some reason, users exit and reenter the system several times in
   a search session causing numerous logons for one actual use.
4) For Cd-ROM subscriptions on more than one disc (SilverPlatter's
   Medline or PsycLIt) users fail to use the Xchange feature when changing
   discs and instead exit and log back in with each disc.

The last two points are of the most concern to me. When I compare the
number of CD-ROM uses from Direct Access with the total of sign-outs
from our Circ. system (which should be the same), Direct Access reports
show anywhere from 300-600 more uses a month!!

If I sit down with the detailed report and go through it line by line,
I can identify a large number of the errors or extra logons but when
the numbers are close to 1200 a month, I don't have the time or the
patience.

For the last few months we have gone to manual log sheets from our
statistics. Before a user receives a CD-ROM disc from the Circulation
Desk they are asked to place 2 checks on the sheet (one under a type of
user and one under the name of the disc they are using). This only
takes a second of their time and we have the statistics we need.
Occasionally I find a blank here and there but the totals (circ. total
and manual total) are much closer.

Conclusion:   Direct Access is a great package (for statistics, menus,
etc.)  and it made our monthly statistics reports fast and easy but
we could not ignore the large number of 'imaginary' uses recorded.
If you want try it for yourself here's the info:

DIRECT ACCESS is produced by:  Delta Technology Int'l
                               1621 Westgate Rd.
                               P.O. Box 1104
                               Eau Claire, WI 54702-1104
                               USA

                        Phone - (715) 832-7575

                        Fax   - (715) 832-0700

If anyone would like more details about some of the responses I received,
you can mail me directly and I'll give you more if I've got it or I can
give you the name of the respondent to contact (I hope they don't mind!).


I hope this has been of some help,

Valerie Gibbons
Search Services Librarian
Lakehead University Library
Lakehead University
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO
CANADA   P7B 5E1

vgibbons@think2.lakeheadu.ca
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom