Web analytics in library practice: Exploration of issues

This study examines the use of web analytics in libraries to understand how this tool can be used to interpret users' behavior on the library's website. Evaluating library and information services is important for library management decision-making regarding the quality of library services. Because such decisions-making is time consuming and requires investment of many resources, libraries are constantly looking for efficient approaches that would provide insights into planning and changes to the library services. The study data consist of reports collected by Google analytics on the University of Missouri's (MU) library website and interactive group interviews with the library's usability committee. The poster presents the preliminary findings and discusses the issues of implementing web analytics in a library setting. The study findings would benefit libraries in understanding how web analytics can be used as an evaluation tool for libraries, especially as an addition to the traditional evaluation tools.