COUNTER Urges Libraries to Abandon 'Standard Views' for Comprehensive Usage Data Analysis
COUNTER, an organization supporting libraries and publishers worldwide, is strongly advising libraries to cease using 'standard views' for reporting library usage data. According to a representative from COUNTER, these standard views, such as TR_J1 and TR_B1, were designed over 15 years ago to mimic older report formats and are inherently limited. They exclude significant subsets of usage data, including newer content types like research data, certain serials (conference proceedings, magazines, newspapers), and crucial metrics like denial metrics and item investigations. This incomplete data can lead librarians to misinterpret usage trends, particularly regarding the shift from subscription-based (Controlled) to open access (Free_To_Read) content. The organization highlights that what might appear as a worrying drop in usage when using standard views is often, in reality, a stable or even increased overall platform usage, with patrons simply accessing more open and free materials. The representative notes ... 
