EBSCO Usage Loading Service Frequently Asked Questions

• What is EBSCONET^® Usage Consolidation, and how can it help me?
• What is the EBSCO Usage Loading Service?
• How do I know if my library can use the EBSCO Usage Loading Service?
• What type of usage data can be loaded by the Usage Loading Service?
• Can the Usage Loading Service load usage data into Usage Consolidation for resources our library did not buy from EBSCO?
• When can I expect to receive usage data that is handled by the Usage Loading Service?
• Will the Usage Loading Service be able to support all of my platforms?
• Will the Usage Loading Service resolve platform errors and exceptions?
• Will the Usage Loading Service match my library's titles and databases?
• Will the Usage Loading Service contact content providers?
• Will a designated representative handle my usage?

• What is EBSCONET^® Usage Consolidation and how can it help me?
  EBSCONET^® Usage Consolidation provides valuable collection usage data and allows you to access cost-per-use information instantly within EBSCONET^® Subscription Management, enabling you to make sound collection development decisions and, ultimately, provide the best resources to your users. Visit the EBSCONET Usage Consolidation website (www.ebsco.com/usage) for more details.back to top
• What is the EBSCO Usage Loading Service?
  EBSCO knows that you and your staff may not be able to dedicate time to loading usage, so the Usage Loading Service was established to load usage on your behalf. Because you are a Usage Consolidation customer, this separate, highly skilled team can obtain your usage reports, load them into your institution's Usage Consolidation account, and match exceptions — allowing you to focus on improving the quality of your collection. (Quotes for the Usage Loading Service can be provided upon request.)back to top
• How do I know if my library can use the EBSCO Usage Loading Service?
  If you are a Usage Consolidation customer, you can choose to have the Usage Loading Service load usage on your behalf.back to top
• What type of usage data can be loaded by the Usage Loading Service?
  Usage reports that are COUNTER-compliant or can easily be manipulated into COUNTER compliance (JR1, DB1, etc.) can be loaded into your library's Usage Consolidation account. SUSHI harvesting also can be configured within your account to allow for timely reporting. (A list of SUSHI-compliant content providers is available at the SUSHI Server Registry: https://sites.google.com/site/sushiserverregistry/.) back to top
• Can the Usage Loading Service load usage data into Usage Consolidation for resources our library did not buy from EBSCO?
  Yes. The Usage Loading Service loads usage reports for any resource, regardless of the vendor they were purchased through.
  Please note: Cost-per-use analysis is available within EBSCONET Subscription Management for the e-journals and e-packages you acquire through EBSCO. 
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• When can I expect to receive usage data that is handled by the Usage Loading Service?
  The COUNTER Code of Practice allows the provider up to four weeks to prepare their data. EBSCO requires an additional two weeks to process the publisher's data and load it into your Usage Consolidation account. (For example, a June usage report would be available to you by mid-August — a total of six weeks). In the event that a content provider is unable to make their usage reports available within the allotted time frame, EBSCO will make the best effort to have the usage data loaded within two weeks of receipt of valid reports.
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• Will the Usage Loading Service be able to support all of my platforms?
  EBSCO's Usage Loading Service is familiar with and supports a wide range of platforms. Each supported platform is fully researched to ensure that the team is knowledgeable in each provider's usage statistics. Furthermore, if the Usage Loading Service currently does not support a platform for which your library requires reports, it is our goal to have the respective platform added on your behalf. The Usage Loading Service will do the research required to make this addition.  
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• Will the Usage Loading Service resolve platform errors and exceptions?
  Yes. When a provider's report is not set to precise standards, an error may be produced. The Usage Loading Service team will research each error and exception thoroughly, determine the cause of the problem, and make the necessary manipulations and improvements to have each usage report successfully uploaded into your Usage Consolidation account.back to top
• Will the Usage Loading Service match my library's titles and databases?
  Yes. Matching title and database exceptions can be a tedious task, but the Usage Loading Service can match exceptions for your subscribed platforms.back to top
• Will the Usage Loading Service contact content providers?
  Yes. The EBSCO Usage Loading Service maintains a direct line of communication with content providers, ensuring that you have the most accurate, up-to-date details about your usage. We contact and work with providers on your behalf so you don't have to!back to top
• Will a designated representative handle my usage?
  Yes. We recognize that your institution is unique, so your Usage Loading Service account is assigned to one of our knowledgeable representatives — ensuring that you receive personalized attention from our highly skilled team. back to top

Glossary

The following is a list of helpful terms related to EBSCO Usage Loading Service.

Cost-per-use analysis

A feature of EBSCONET® Subscription Management. For those titles bought through EBSCO, EBSCONET can pull the usage data from Usage Consolidation for a subscribed title and combine it with cost data in Order History to provide point-of-need cost-per-use analysis. 

EBSCONET® Usage Consolidation        

An inexpensive, vendor-neutral module that allows the customer to load usage from ANY supported platform (content host), regardless of where content is purchased. Usage Consolidation is a simple application that focuses on usage and basic reporting, but real-time integration allows EBSCONET Subscription Management to show usage details and present cost-per-use analysis for subscriptions and e-packages. Visit the EBSCONET Usage Consolidation site (www.ebsco.com/usage) for more details.

EBSCO Usage Loading Service

A highly skilled team within EBSCO that works on behalf of customers to handle the labor of configuring platform details, obtaining, and loading usage data.

Platform

The content host. COUNTER reports are pulled for a customer at the platform level. Journal Report 1 will include all titles from that platform to which the customer has access.