2. Background
Publisher-generated usage statistics need to
be credible, compatible and consistent if they
are contribute towards our understanding of
usage of online information resources
Libraries and consortia need online usage
statistics
To assess the value of different online
products/services
To support collection development
To plan infrastructure
3. Publishers need usage statistics
To demonstrate that reduced usage of print issues
has been compensated by increased online usage
To assess the relative importance of the various
channels via which its content reaches the market
To experiment with new pricing models
To support editorial policy
To obtain improved market analysis/demographics
To inform authors where and how articles are used
To improve site design and navigation
To plan infrastructure, e.g. mirror sites/caches
4. In October 2001 ARL concluded
“….it is largely impossible to compare data across
vendors, and we recommend that comparison be
limited to data from the same vendors.
We believe that the comprehensive standardisation of
usage statistics and data delivery methods cannot be
easily achieved in the short term.”
ARL E-metrics Phase II Report, October 2001
5. COUNTER is endorsed by…..
AAP, Association of American Publishers
ALPSP, The Association of Learned and professional
Society Publishers
ARL, The Association of Research Libraries
ASA, Association of Subscription Agents and
Intermediaries
NCLIS, National Information Standards Organization
PA, The Publishers Association
STM, International Association of Scientific, Technical
& Medical Publishers
6. COUNTER: objective
To develop a single, international, extendible Code of
Practice that allows the usage of online information to
be measured in a credible, consistent and compatible
way using vendor-generated data.
7. COUNTER: strategy
Respond to the requirements of the international
librarian, publisher and intermediary communities
An open, inclusive and interactive process
Representation of all three communities on COUNTER
Limit scope of Release 1 to journals and databases
Systematically extend scope of the Code of Practice
Horizontally, to cover other content types, such as e-books
Vertically, to provide, e.g., statistics for individual articles
A cost effective-process for all parties involved
Only one valid version of the Code of Practice at any
time
8. Code of Practice, Release 1:
Main Features
Definitions of terms used
Specifications for Usage Reports
Data processing guidelines
Auditing
Compliance
Maintenance and development of the Code of
Practice
Governance of COUNTER
9. Definitions of Terms
Data elements to be collected
Page views # Term Examples /
formats
Definition
Bibliographic data 3.1.2 Page type
3.1.2.1 Item Full text A uniquely identifiable piece of
Page type article, TOC, published work that may be
Abstract, original or a digest or a review of
Source of page
Database other published work. PDF,
record Postscript and HTML formats of
the same full text article (for
Authentication of user
example), will be counted as
separate items.
Access rights 3.1.2.2 Article An item of original written work
published in a journal or other
serial publication. An article is
Session data complete in itself, but usually
cites other relevant published
works in its list of references
Market elements 3.1.2.3 TOC (Table of A list of all articles published in a
Contents) journal issue
Every effort was made to incorporate or reconcile the definitions
with existing ones from other groups, such as NISO and ICOLC.
10. Specifications for Usage Reports
Usage Reports: Level 1
Journal Report 1: # of successful full-text article requests by
month and journal
Journal Report 2: Turnaways by month and journal
Database Report 1: Total searches & sessions by month &
database
Database Report 2: turnaways by month & database
Database Report 3: Total searches & sessions by month &
service
Usage Reports: Level 2
Journal Report 3: # of successful item requests and
turnaways by month, journal & page type
Journal Report 4: total searches run, by month & service
Report format: CSV file, as a Microsoft Excel file
11. Journal Report 1: Successful
Full-Text Article Requests by Month and
Journal
Print ISSN Online Jan - Feb - Mar - Calendar
ISSN 01 01 01 YTD
Total for all 6637 8732 7550 45897
journals
Journal of AA 1212-3131 3225-3123 456 521 665 4532
Journal of BB 9821-3361 2312-8751 203 251 275 3465
Journal of CC 2464-2121 0154-1521 0 0 0 0
Journal of DD 5355-5444 0165-5542 203 251 275 2978
Example
12. Data processing guidelines
Covers only intended usage
Impractical to describe filters for all possible
ways to generate usage records
Code of Practice specifies the criteria to be met
by the data used in building the Usage Reports
Only successful requests will be counted
Records generated by the server, together with the
requested pages, should be ignored
All users’ double clicks within 10 seconds on an http-
link should be counted as only one request (30
seconds for PDF)
13. Auditing
Auditing will be required beginning in 2004
A publisher or content provider will be able
to state that it is “Counter Compliant” only
if this can be certified through an
independent audit
Auditing processes are under development
A list of COUNTER-approved auditors will
be made available
14. Compliance 1
Requirement for 2003
Level 1: basic set of journal and database reports
Licence Agreements
Standard clause covering COUNTER compliance
Declaration of COUNTER compliance
For 2003
Vendors sign declaration and demonstrate to COUNTER
that they can provide at least Level 1 Usage Reports
Register of COUNTER-compliant vendors
Available from June 2003 on the COUNTER website
15. Compliance 2
Vendors already COUNTER compliant
Blackwell Publishing, ISI, OUP
Vendors who have declared an intention to become
COUNTER compliant during 2003
American Institute of Physics, BMJ Publishing, CABI
International, Cambridge University Press, EBSCO, Elsevier
Science, Extenza, HighWire Press, Ingenta, Institute of
Physics Publishing, Nature Publishing Group, Portland
Press, Swets Blackwell, Turpion
16. Maintenance and Development of
the Code of Practice
Full text of the Code of Practice is freely available on the
COUNTER website
html and PDF formats
Guidelines for implementation
Code of Practice will be systematically extended
An Upgrade Log of proposed changes is maintained
Feedback on Release 1 is actively sought
Via test sites involving publishers and libraries
Via feedback to COUNTER via the website, International
Advisory Board, etc.
17. COUNTER organizational structure
A not-for-profit company set up in England
Any surplus is retained by the project
If wound up any funds are transferred to the organization
that takes over COUNTER’s mission
Board structure
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
International Advisory Board
Specific, task-oriented teams
Membership
The members own the company
18. COUNTER Membership
Member Categories and Annual Fees
Publishers and intermediaries (aggregators):
$750
Consortia: $750
Libraries: $375
Industry organization: $375
Library affiliate: $150 (non-voting member)
Benefits of full membership
Owner of COUNTER with voting rights at
annual general meeting, etc.
Regular bulletins on progress
Advice on implementation
19. Future Developments:
2003 and beyond
Objectives for 2003
Promote and gain acceptance for the Code of Practice
Obtain feedback on Release 1
Complete list of approved auditors
Define and set up a permanent administrative structure
Promote membership of COUNTER
Full implementation by vendors for 2004 subscription year
Beyond 2003
Build membership of COUNTER
Extend and deepen Code of Practice
Cover e-books, etc
Journal reporting at article level
20. COUNTER Founding Sponsors
AAP/PSP JSTOR
AIP Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
ALPSP Nature Publishing Group
ARL New England Journal of
ASA Medicine
Atypon OCLC
Blackwell Publishing Oxford University Press
BMJ Publishing Group The Publishers Association
EBSCO ProQuest
Elsevier Science Taylor & Francis Group
ICSTI STM
Ingenta Swets Blackwell
IOPP UKSG
ISI
21. For more information……….
www.projectCounter.org
Peter Shepherd (Project Director)
pshepherd@projectCounter.org
