MSU Libraries Usage Data During Initial COVID-19 Closure
The UX unit gathered usage data and prepared a report to compare library usage during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic to the same months in the previous two years. The report establishes a "pandemic baseline" to compare future semesters to. Though this data is often not sufficient to determine causes and effects of increases or decreases in usage, it helps identify trends to watch as the pandemic continues and we chart our course to a "new normal" on behalf of the MSU community.
Read the MSU Libraries Usage Data Comparison Report March - May 2020
Background
On March 16, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order temporarily closing many public spaces, including academic libraries. All MSU Libraries employees who were able to work remotely began doing so on March 16th, and the Main, Business, and Gull Lake library branches were closed to patrons. During this time, the Libraries continued to offer existing online services, added new resources and services to support distance learning and instruction, and acquired and delivered physical materials when necessary.
Methods and Data Sources
- Method: Quantitative data comparison
- Data Sources: Google Analytics, LibGuides, library catalog, internally reported data, vendor data
- Data is available in a Google Sheet
Recommendations
Trends to study further:
- Highly increased usage of multimedia streaming packages
- Highly increased usage of lending books to patrons by mail
- Increased usage of resources that enable staff remote work, such as the digital repository
- Increased usage of chat reference
- Steady usage of MSU Libraries' website, LibGuides, and library search box
- Steady need for subject specialist assistance to faculty during the pandemic
- Slightly decreased usage of licensed e-resources (books and journal articles)
- Impact of transition from physical to virtual library instruction sessions in Fall 2020