By providing access to statistics through an open service IRUS data can support a range of activities, use cases and roles. Here are some examples of how IRUS can be used.
Repository manager
- Identify high use items for promotion, highlighting to researchers, or reporting
- Demonstrate the value of the repository to the institution and promote its use by being able to report overall usage figures
- View trends to evaluate the impact of events or activities (e.g., OA week)
- Benchmark usage of institution's repository against peer institutions to understand usage in the broader context
- Surface usage statistics in local systems using the IRUS API and widget
- Improve metadata management in the institutional repository using IRUS metadata reports
Research manager
- Assess the overall reach and visibility of researchers' work
- Demonstrate where the institutional repository is serving a broader audience by assessing which countries are accessing repository content
- Understand how repository content is being used and provide evidence support institutional planning and policy
Author
- Assess the impact of my dissemination activities
- Demonstrate the impact and value of my research
- Demonstrate the value and impact of my research in reporting to funders
- Demonstrate that my research is deposited and accessible
- Track the usage of my research within and across institutions with participating repositories
Case studies
We have several case studies, on the previous version of the service, showing specific examples of ways in which IRUS-UK statistics have been used by UK institutions. IRUS has also collaborated with other services, on an international basis, to enhance the provision of COUNTER-conformant usage statistics and demonstrate the benefits of standardised approaches.
You can read more about these examples on the previous IRUS website in the case studies and use cases areas.