COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources) 4 is a set of standards and protocols for measuring and reporting usage of online resources, such as electronic journals and databases, in a consistent and comparable way. The purpose of COUNTER is to provide librarians, publishers, and vendors with reliable and relevant usage statistics that can be used to evaluate the value and impact of electronic resources.
In the context of library science, COUNTER 4 is a critical tool for librarians and library administrators to manage electronic resources and ensure that they are being used effectively. For example, a library might use COUNTER 4 to track the usage of electronic journals and databases that it subscribes to. The library can use the usage statistics to determine which resources are being used most frequently, which resources are underutilized, and which resources are not being used at all.
Based on the usage statistics, the library can make informed decisions about renewing or canceling subscriptions, negotiating better terms with publishers, or exploring alternative resources that better meet the needs of its users. The library can also use the usage statistics to demonstrate the value of electronic resources to stakeholders, such as funding agencies and library patrons, and to make the case for continued investment in these resources.
Overall, COUNTER 4 is an important tool in library science, as it provides a consistent and reliable way to measure and report usage of electronic resources and enables libraries to make informed decisions about resource allocation and management.
