Database Usage
Use of library subscription databases dropped back closer to "normal" levels this quarter. It was just above average at 3,228 full-text document downloads, though that was down substantially from last quarter's record-breaker of 4,309 and Q1's second-highest ever number of downloads at 4,151. Our 5-year average is around 3,100 downloads a quarter. This quarter we had strong showings as usual by ASTM Compass, followed by library catalog click-throughs (where patrons click on a URL in a bibliographic record in the library's catalog), followed by Knovel, Transportation Research Record and ASCE Library. It is not clear why the past two quarters (both during the pandemic) were record highs, or why this quarter the numbers descended back to normal levels.
The Library continues expanding access to resources through "self-service" online databases. We provide 16 subscription databases to VDOT employees (14 are "full text" resources). Because we serve VDOT's engineering and business needs, we tend to see steady usage month to month. Tables here show the number of downloads per month (below) from each database, and the trend over the past year (right), which saw an unexpected increase last October, followed by a decrease in November-February, leveling out in March.
| Subscription Downloads By VDOT: FY21 Q3 | ||||
| January | February | March | Total | |
| ASTM Compass | 316 | 397 | 520 | 1,233 |
| Non-Subscription Downloads (Library Catalog) | 296 | 249 | 275 | 820 |
| Knovel | 77 | 94 | 131 | 302 |
| Transportation Research Record | 82 | 84 | 129 | 295 |
| ASCE Library | 57 | 67 | 75 | 199 |
| Skillsoft Books | 152 | 32 | 12 | 196 |
| *Other (miscellaneous journals) | 19 | 59 | 38 | 116 |
| EBSCO eBooks | 23 | 1 | 5 | 29 |
| ICE Virtual Library | 13 | 2 | 6 | 21 |
| ScienceDirect | 0 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| EBSCO Business Book Summaries | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Monthly Totals | 1,035 | 997 | 1,196 | 3,228 |
Note: Miscellaneous resources includes International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Corrosion and Road Materials and Pavement Design.
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