Libraries worldwide are set to benefit from a groundbreaking collaboration as Gale Partners with Scholarly iQ, a leader in usage analytics services. This strategic alliance, announced in November 2024, is designed to significantly enhance COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources) reporting capabilities for Gale’s extensive network of library and institutional customers. The upgrade to the COUNTER 5.1 standard ensures that institutions gain access to more transparent, efficient, and insightful usage data, dating back to January 2023.
In an era where academic institutions are increasingly focused on demonstrating accountability and maximizing resource utilization, this partnership between Gale partners and Scholarly iQ arrives as a pivotal development. By integrating COUNTER-compliant reporting, libraries will be empowered to delve deeper into the utilization patterns of their digital resources. This enhanced visibility facilitates streamlined data collection and reporting, enabling data-driven decisions regarding collection development and strategic investments in digital resources.
Key Advantages for Libraries Through Gale and Scholarly iQ Partnership
The collaboration between Gale partners and Scholarly iQ unlocks a suite of key benefits, directly addressing the evolving needs of modern libraries:
- Intuitive Reporting Dashboards: Libraries will gain access to user-friendly dashboards that simplify the often-complex process of analyzing usage data. These dashboards provide quick and efficient access to COUNTER-compliant reports, making data interpretation and application more accessible for library staff.
- Advanced Data Harvesting with Updated JSON Schema: The upgrade incorporates the new JSON schema for R5.1, built on OpenAPI3.1. This modern schema is significantly more compact and efficient than previous iterations. The result is streamlined file generation, validation, and utilization. Improvements include the elimination of duplicate metadata for items and parents, a simplified performance structure, and more straightforward value lists, all contributing to a more robust and user-friendly system.
- Granular and Flexible Data Analytics: Beyond basic reporting, the Gale partners and Scholarly iQ collaboration delivers powerful, flexible, and granular data analytics capabilities. This deeper level of analysis provides Gale with invaluable insights into business performance, informed by concrete data. This evidence-based approach will drive innovative business changes and optimize user engagement strategies, ultimately enhancing the value proposition for libraries.
Matt Kibble, Director of Product Management for Global Academic Subscriptions at Gale, emphasized the strategic alignment of this partnership: “Partnering with Scholarly iQ perfectly reflects our dedication to equipping libraries and institutions with the essential tools for effective management and analysis of their digital collections. Adhering to industry standards like COUNTER is central to Gale’s commitment to the library community. Working alongside Scholarly iQ, we are ensuring the provision of reliable data that empowers our customers to accurately assess the impact of our databases.”
Echoing this sentiment, Gary Van Overborg, CEO at Scholarly iQ, stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Gale partners to bring enhanced COUNTER reporting to libraries. This partnership marks a significant stride forward in providing libraries with the actionable insights necessary to effectively navigate the dynamic landscape of digital resources.”
Libraries can anticipate the availability of these new COUNTER reporting functionalities starting February 15th, 2025. Further details regarding this partnership and its comprehensive benefits are readily accessible on Gale’s website and at www.scholarlyiq.com.
About the Partnering Organizations
About Cengage Group and Gale
Cengage Group, a global education technology leader, empowers millions of learners across 165 countries through cutting-edge digital learning experiences. Serving diverse markets including K-12, higher education, professional development, libraries, English language training, and workforce training, Cengage Group is committed to advancing education through technology. Gale, a key part of Cengage Group, provides libraries with a wealth of original and expertly curated content, alongside state-of-the-art research tools and technologies. For over 65 years, Gale partners with libraries worldwide, facilitating the seamless discovery of knowledge and insights, anytime, anywhere. Gale employs 500 individuals globally and maintains its primary operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For further information, please visit www.gale.com.
About Scholarly iQ
Scholarly iQ stands at the forefront of analytics platforms, specializing in transforming complex scholarly publishing data into clear, actionable insights. Their core mission is to empower libraries and institutions to leverage the power of data for informed decision-making and strategic resource management.
