Tracking and Metering Library Usages on the Web

Transcript Tracking and Metering Library Usages on the Web

Tracking and Metering Library Usages
on the Web
2011 VALE Users'/ACRL-NJ/NJLA-CUS Conference
Sharon Yang & Patricia Dawson
Rider University
Overview
• Introduction
– How the Web trackers are being used by librarians
– What kind of Web trackers are available
– Types of usage statistics
• Web Trackers (tracking & metering tools)
– Tools to track Web pages/user behavior
– Tools to track Flash tutorials/user behavior
– Demos
• Conclusion
• References/credits
Introduction: How Web Trackers are Used
• Online catalogs: circulation, license records, coverage
(Carroll and Cummings, 2010)
• Collection analysis (Paynter, 2009)
• Serials analysis (Paynter, 2009; Carroll and
Cummings, 2010)
• Monitoring legal users, purging non-active users by
mapping IP to geographical locations (Spitzer, 2009)
• Web pages and user behavior
• Use of online tutorials (Betty, 2009, 2008; Coombs,
2005; Good, 2004)
Introduction: Types of Web Trackers
1. OPACs-Invisible Web and statistics mostly by
vendors
2. Electronic databases-Invisible Web and
statistics mostly by individual vendors
3. Web page viewing ,link clicking, tasks
performed, browsers used, amount of time
spent on each page
4. Web applications-Flash tutorials and videos
Introduction: What We Will Cover?
1. OPACs-Invisible Web and statistics mostly
by vendors
2. Electronic databases-Invisible Web and
statistics mostly by individual vendors
3. Web page viewing ,link clicking, tasks
performed, browsers used, amount of time
spent on each page
4. Web applications-Flash tutorials/videos
Web page viewing ,link clicking, tasks performed,
browsers used, amount of time spent on each page
Web Pages/user behavior
1. Apache Server logs and analytical tools
–
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2.
Commercial-WebTrands, Surfstats, Sawmill
Open source-Awstats, Analog, Webalizer
Web-based Solutions
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StatCounter at www.statcounter.com
Google Analytics at https://www.google.com/analytics
Apache Web Server Logs
• Apache Web Server configuration fileHttpd.conf
• access.log
• error.log
Apache Web Server logs-access.log
Apache server Logs and Analytical Tools
• Acess.log needs analytical tools to view and analyze
• Free analytical tools
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–
•
Awstats (Unix or any operating system that has perl)
Analog (Windows, Macintosh, Unix and more)
Webalizer (Unix)
Demo-use Analog to view and analyze access.log
–
–
–
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Download Analog for Windows
Unzip it into a directory
Tell analog.cfg the location of access.log file
Run analog.exe
View report.html
StatCounter
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Go to http://www. statcounter.com
Register and create an account
Create the code based on your preference
Cut and paste the code into the page you want to keep track of
Log in to http://www.statcounter.com to see statistics
Configure StatCounter
Configure StatCounter
StatCounter Code
The Page to Be Tracked by StatCounter
<html>
<title>StatCounter Demo</title>
<body>
<center><h1>StatCounter Demo Page </h1></center>
This is a demo of how StatCounter works<br><br>
The folloing are the steps to install StatCounter on your site:<br><br>
1. Register and create a user account<br>
2. Tell StatCounter how and what you want to track such as the URL of your web<br>
and if you want an image or text counter<br>
3. Copy and cut the code into your html file<br>
4.Login www.statcounter.com for statistics<br><br>

<script type="text/javascript">
var sc_project=6509572;
var sc_invisible=0;
var sc_security="57088f1d";
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a title="web stats"
href="http://statcounter.com/free_web_stats.html"
target="_blank"><img class="statcounter"
src="http://c.statcounter.com/6509572/0/57088f1d/0/"
alt="web stats" ></a></div></noscript>

</body>
Demo of this page
StatCounter Statistics
The Next Topic?
1. Web page/user behavior (Web page viewing ,link clicking,
tasks performed, browsers used, amount of time spent
on each page)
•
Apache Server logs and analytical tools
–
–
•
Commercial-WebTrands, Surfstats, Sawmill
Open source-Awstats, Analog, Webalizer
Web-based Solutions
–
–
StatCounter at www.statcounter.com
Google Analytics at https://www.google.com/analytics
2. Web applications-Flash tutorials/videos
Flash Tutorials/Videos
• Flash Analytics of Google Analytics (Flash component)
• Blackboard
• Software
– Hitbox
– MochiBot (Free at www.mochibot.com)
Google Analytics
• www.google.com/analytics
• “Google Analytics (GA) is a free service offered by Google that
generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website”
(Wikipedia)
• Google Analytics “is a free web analytics tool offering detailed
visitor statistics. The tool can be used to track all the usual site
activities: visits, page views, pages per visit, bounce rates and
average time on site etc.” (SEO and Internet Marketing
Services)
Use Google Analytics
One Method:
• Go to Google Analytics web site
• Register and create an account
• Create a project by entering the URL for tracking and metering
• Copy and paste the code into the xxxx.htm file
• Enter the following Javascript coding into each tutorial slide for tracking
and metering
pageTracker._trackPageview(“slide3");
• View report and statistics
• For details, please use the following site:
http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/tracking/flashTrackingIntro.html
Flash tutorial
When you publish a Flash tutorial, you will
produce three files:
• xxxx.htm
• xxxx.swf
• xxxx.js
Google Analytics code
Adding the Code to demo.htm
Prepare Adobe Captive for Tracking
Prepare Adobe Captive for Tracking
Communication
• The code in xxxx.swf will communicate with
the code in xxxxx.htm
• The code in xxxx.htm will talk to Google
Analytics server by a Web property ID
• The Analytics server will compile data and
produce reports
Google Analytics
Google Analytics Report
Blackboard
• Upload the flash file to any Blackboard Item using the
WYSIWYG editor
• The files must be under 25MB each, and the course size must
not exceed 300MB (Rider policy only)
• Set tracking on the item to see what students have seen it,
how many times, what time of day, what day of week, etc.
• Statistics are produced and housed in Blackboard
• Faculty can monitor students’ use of individual modules in a
tutorial
Conclusion
• Deciding on type of Web Tracker Depends on
who controls the data to some degree
• Web Trackers embedded into course
management systems (WebCt, Blackboard)
allows faculty to track actual student
participation but not visible to librarians
• Web Trackers embedded into library servers or
Google Analytics can be controlled by
librarians
Questions?
References
•
Betty, Paul. “Assessing Homegrown Library Collections: Using Google Analytics to
Track Use of Screencasts and Flash-based Learning Objects.” Journal of Electronic
Resources Librarianship 21 (2009): 75-92. doi:10.1080/19411260902858631.
•
———. “Creation, Management, and Assessment of Library Screencasts: The Regis
Libraries Animated Tutorials Project.” Journal of Library Administration 48, no. 3/4
(2008): 295-315. doi:10.1080/01930820802289342.
•
Carroll, Dianne, and Joel Cummings. “Data Driven Collection Assessment Using a
Serial Decision Database.” Serials Review 36, no. 4 (2010): 227-239.
doi:10.1016/j.serrev.2010.09.001.
•
Coombs, Karen A. “Using Web Server Logs to Track Users through the Electronic
Forest.” Computers in Libraries 25, no. 1 (2005): 16-20.
References
•
Good, Deborah J. “The Use of Flash Animations with a WebCT Environment:
Enhancing Comprehension.” International Journal of Instructional Media 31, no. 4
(2004): 355-370.
•
Paynter, Robin A. “Commercial Library Decision Support Systems: An Analysis
Based on Collection Managers’ Needs.” Collection Management 47 (2009): 31-47.
doi:10.1080/01462670802548585.
•
Rogers, Michael. “Ebsco Delivers Open Source Usage Stats Software Kit.” Library
Journal 134, no. 15 (2009): 18.
•
———. “Serial Solutions Improves Reporting for 360 Counter.” Library Journal 134,
no. 15 (2009): 18.
References
•
SEO and Internet Marketing Services. "Internet Marketing and SEO Glossary-G.“
Mid-Atlantic SEO. http://www.midatlanticseo.com/information/ internetmarketing-glossary/SEO-keywords-and-definitions-g.php
•
Spitzer, Stephan. “Better Control of User Web Access of Electronic Resources.”
Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries 6 (2009): 91-100.
doi:10.1080/15424060902931997.
•
Wikipedia. "Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia." Google Analytics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Analytics (accessed January 4, 2011).

Tracking and Metering Library Usages on the Web

Transcript Tracking and Metering Library Usages on the Web

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