Public, school, and academic libraries are increasingly being called upon to justify our place in the world using data we collect from the systems our patrons use every day. We strive to be highly attuned to our patrons’ needs, and are always seeking out new ways to improve library services. The integration of Google Analytics (GA) into Discovery can help libraries gather the necessary data to prove that patrons are using next generation library cataloging systems, and also collect data to analyze how patrons are using these systems. This session will briefly overview past research on integrating GA into library Discovery systems, and then cover setup and customization options that relate specifically to setting up GA for Discovery platforms. We’ll finish up by reviewing how the Carl B. Ylvisaker library at Concordia College is using their data to improve reference and instruction services, and look to the future of GA for libraries.
