1. The Impact of Metrics on Scholarly Libraries
Metrics and Altmetrics for Open Access Monographs
Charles Watkinson, Associate University Librarian, Publishing, U-M Library
Director, University of Michigan Press
January 11, 2019

3. Understanding OA Ebook Usage: Toward a Common Framework
Structured community conversation about OA ebook usage
June end of May 2019
Supported by Mellon Foundation
KU Research “provocation” (summer)
Opportunities/challenges
Landscape review
Data trust proposal
Consultation and Summit (fall)
Book Industry Study Group (BISG) White Paper (spring) including recommendations

4. Understanding OA Ebook Usage Feedback Themes
Support for “usage data trust” concept although debate about scope of responsibilities (standards? software for transformations? repository service?)
Starting with the least “controversial” data and then moving upstream to engage with richer information is most practicable approach.
Many related questions about the information supply chain for OA ebooks, and ebooks in general. Currently books are not fully participating in the networked environment and this hurts scholars who write books.
Desirability of coordinating work across the Atlantic as much as possible.
Need for further work on “personas” (e.g., funder, author, publisher, reader, librarian) to understand what information they need and why.

5. So what does a “librarian” persona for consuming OA ebook information look like?

6. Libraries play multiple roles in supporting open access

7. 1. Support discovery

8. 2. Coordinate funding support
TOME has 14 supporting institutions in the 5 year pilot
About 30 titles have been funded through TOME so far

9. 3. Publish open access titles (on open infrastructure)
15% of UMP books published last year were OA
115 recent UMP books are open access
784 backlist titles are open access via HathiTrust
Michigan Publishing Services supports ca. 30 OA journals and is growing the program; also publishes conference proceedings, white papers, etc.

10. Who makes collection decisions in the library?
Collections Coordinators Subject Specialists Vendor Profilers

11. How do they use metrics?
“Libraries have different missions, aspirations and resources (acquisition dollars + staff time), so they often use metrics in different ways. Common are usage stats and cost per use (includes more than just the initial purchase/subscription fees, but also workflow costs associated with discovery/access to the materials). Many decisions are made on the basis of perceived quality of particular publishers or journals. This is where impact factors and the like come in, including journal  and sometimes article-level impact metrics. I suppose you could see all of the above as metrics that attempt to determine the value of particular materials, for a specified user group. In a general sense, many decisions are made with the intent of aligning with campus priorities.”
“Yes, we make collecting decisions based on metrics but I think some of these metrics are so longstanding and almost second nature to subject specialists that we might not necessarily identify them as such, given the current ‘metrics’ parlance and meaning. Our collecting focus is on alignment with current & anticipated campus needs, interests, and priorities. Do we measure this sense of alignment formally in our day to day collecting work? Not really. Do we apply measured and systematic thinking to our consideration of materials to select/acquire/preserve? Absolutely.”

13. How do they make decisions?
1. Quality
Measured in ways aligned with the discipline.
2. Relevance
Focused on importance for the University community.
3. Cost
“Cost per use” takes into account full costs of acquisition.

14. How can OA publishers make it easier for libraries to support them?

15. 1. Signal quality

16. 2. Communicate local relevance

17. 3. Reduce costs of discovery?

18. Thank You watkinc@umich.edu 734 936 0452