Repository Statistics: What Do We Want to Know?

Abstract

The purpose of the Interoperable Repository Statistics project (IRS) was to give repository managers the tools needed to provide meaningful statistics to their depositors (authors) and management on the use (in terms of downloads) of the repository as a whole, the individual items it contains, and the various collections into which those items are aggregated. In doing so, the project provides a significant management tool, not only to observe the usage of the repository, but also to understand how changes to the repository affect its usage (for good or ill) and hence to drive forward a programme of positive repository improvements. It also provides methods for individual authors to monitor and hence influence the impact that their work has in various web channels – authoritative information sources, mailing lists, technical reports, articles, blogs and the like. Since the changing UK academic context is making evidence of research impact more and more important and there is a growing consensus that increased open access downloads lead to an increase in citations, such tools are not only administrative in nature but a significant benefit to research management activities.