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.

Access types

Describes the method of access to the content. Metrics include: Controlled; Open and Free_To_Read.

Book Access Denied

Denials of access for each e-book. Metrics include No_license or Limit_Exceeded.

Book Requests (Controlled)

Total and unique requests for authenticated e-books. Excludes open access.

Book Usage by access type

Total and unique investigations and requests for ebooks. Chapters are reported separately. If a user access and e-book and opens the abstract and then 5 chapters, this will result in 6 total item investigations, and 5 total item requests.

Database Access Denied

Denials of access for each database. Metrics include No_license or Limit_Exceeded.

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.

Data types

The type of content being reported upon. For example, Article, Book, Book_Segment, or Journal.

Database Report/Database Search and Item Usage

Searches, investigations and requests logged for each databases.

Full-text requests

Number of times the full text is requested.

Interface usage

An EBSCO report. The interfaces hosted on EBSCOhost, such a NHS Knowledge and Library Hub, for which activity is recorded.

Journal Access Denied

Denials of access for each ejournal. Metrics include No_license or Limit_Exceeded.

Journal Requests (Controlled)

Total and unique requests for authenticated ejournals. Excludes open access.

Journal Usage by Access Type

Total and unique investigations and requests for ejournals.

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

A supplier’s interface for searching resources.

Platform report

Total and unique item investigations and requests for each data type.

Platform search

A single 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 for each data type, plus searches_platform.

Searches automated

The number of times a user searches a database, when it has not been actively selected. Searches in the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub will be counted as automated searches.

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. Will 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 Report

Investigations and requests 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, federated or platform.

Unique item investigations

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

Unique item requests

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

Unique title investigations

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

Unique title requests

Consolidates all requests of the same title by the same user within the same session into a single count. Titles may be journals or books.