Designing a user and usage database to promote, market, and demonstrate the value of selected statewide databases. The Florida Electronic Library as an example
| Published date | 20 July 2012 |
| Pages | 365-373 |
| Date | 20 July 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121211266168 |
| Author | Charles R. McClure,Lauren H. Mandel,Lynnsey K. Weissenberger |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Designing a user and usage
database to promote, market, and
demonstrate the value of selected
statewide databases
The Florida Electronic Library as an example
Charles R. McClure
The Information Institute, The Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Lauren H. Mandel
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA, and
Lynnsey K. Weissenberger
The Information Institute, The Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to overview the development of a user and usage database, including
multiple datasets that were combined to achieve multi-faceted analysis of users and their usage of the
Florida Electronic Library (a statewide, licensed database).
Design/methodology/approach – Because of the differences in the purposes and activities among
the project’s five phases, the research team employed a multi-method approach to data collection,
including content analysis of datasets, usability and functionality assessments of the beta database,
and cross-tab and descriptive statistical analyses of datasets in the final database.
Findings – Researchers found first that, although numerous potential datasets existed, not all could
be collated into one interactive database due to variations in measurement levels, currency, and other
factors. Ultimately, the database included usage and Census data, allowing the researchers to assess
usage per capita and in the context of counties’ demographic profiles. The research finds that creation
of a multi-dataset database can be complicated but is useful for developing data-driving marketing
recommendations.
Originality/value – Compiling various datasets describing users and usage of a consortial licensed
database into one interactive database facilitates cross-tabulation and comparison. This project will
enhance digital library research, evaluation, and marketing by serving as an example of how to
identify appropriate datasets for cross-tabulation, develop a database that allows interactive
searching, use the database to develop targeted marketing campaigns, and better describe impacts and
value of these datasets.
Keywords Publiclibraries, Licenseddatabases, Library consortia,Database usagestatistics, Databases,
User studies
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
This paper was originally presented at the 9th Northumbria International Conference on
Performance in Libraries and Information Services.
The authors would like to acknowledge the Florida Division of Library Information Services
for funding and otherwise supporting this research.
A user and usage
database
365
Received 4 May 2012
Accepted 15 June 2012
Library Management
Vol. 33 No. 6/7, 2012
pp. 365-373
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435121211266168
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