Why Participate?

MINES collects valid survey data not available through vendor-supplied statistics, and can help libraries understand their networked electronic resource usage. It can help determine who is using the resources by status (e.g., undergraduate) or by affiliation (e.g., School of Business). Knowing the locations from where networked services are being used enables librarians to plan user support services accordingly. Determining purpose of use permits academic librarians to identify which category of electronic resources contributes most to their institutions’ primary mission of instruction/education, funded research, patient care, public service, and other activities. The survey is valuable in the refinement of collection development and service decisions. MINES provides reliable data to help librarians and administrators assess the impact of digital resources and services.