Tracking the use of libguides: a content and usage study applying return on investment

Abstract

Introduction Library collections and information products are valuable assets that need to be assessed based on their usage and effectiveness. The services rendered of a library which can be expressed by acquiring numerous materials and tools that support studying, teaching, and research has its own accounting value that needs to be measured based on its return on investment (ROI). A LibGuide is a powerful tool that complements the learning of students through a guide that functions as an electronic instructional material. This study considers the return on investment by calculating the cost per view of published LibGuides from 2017 to early 2018. Methods The study used the limited built-in tracking tool of the Springshare’s LibGuides platform to determine the monthly view statistics of the published guides. Due to its limitations, the increase of usage of every LibGuide was calculated based on the number of views for the first six months of 2018. The ROI was measured by calculating the current valuation of the content management system over the total number of published guides for 2017. The quotient will be divided from the total number of views per day and it will result to the cost per view. Only the top ten most viewed were considered. Results The cost per view based on the top most accessed LibGuide is 6.15 USD. Based on a total of more than 19, 900 views with 56 guides published in 2017, only two LibGuides received more than six usage views a day and the rest is below four. Most LibGuides from 2017 generated more than 50% increase usage considering that it is only half of 2018. Based on a quick survey conducted during the summer months, most students are unaware of the published guides. Conclusions It is worth noting that LibGuide utilization is low but is expected to rise up in the next years to come. It will take more time to receive the ROI. Students are unaware of the existence of the guides. Subject Librarians have to exert extra effort to keep on reminding the students about the LibGuides and that more marketing plans and collaboration from the faculty members should be developed to maximize the full potential of the LibGuide as an e-learning tool.