Database Usage
Use of library subscription databases remained healthy during yet another quarter in VDOT's shift to telework as a safety precaution during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disruption this event caused the agency, overall library database use has remained high. Our 5-year average is around 3,100 downloads a quarter and earlier in the year we saw 4,151 downloads (Q1), an all-time record of 4,309 (Q2) and then 3,228 (Q3). This quarter downloads leveled out, with 3,069 in all, with typically strong showings by ASTM Compass, Knovel, and Skillsoft Books.
The Library continues expanding access to resources through "self-service" online databases. We provide 16 subscription databases to VDOT employees. Because we serve VDOT's engineering and business needs, we tend to see steady usage month to month. Tables here show the number of downloads per month (below) from each database, and the trend over the past year (right), which nearly saw a record in Q1, did reach a record in Q2 and leveled back out in Q3. This quarter it dropped back to the 5-year average.
| Subscription Downloads By VDOT: FY21 Q4 | ||||
| April | May | June | Total | |
| ASTM Compass | 349 | 475 | 584 | 1,408 |
| ASCE Library | 188 | 192 | 158 | 538 |
| Skillsoft Books | 99 | 114 | 994 | 312 |
| Transportation Research Record | 99 | 92 | 86 | 277 |
| Knovel | 132 | 54 | 54 | 240 |
| Non-Subscription Downloads (Library Catalog) | 110 | 27 | 24 | 161 |
| *Other (miscellaneous journals) | 28 | 15 | 20 | 63 |
| EBSCO Business Source Corporate Plus | 15 | 0 | 26 | 41 |
| EBSCO eBooks | 4 | 0 | 8 | 12 |
| ICE Virtual Library | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| EBSCO Business Book Summaries | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| ScienceDirect | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Monthly Totals | 1,028 | 977 | 1,064 | 3,069 |
Note: Miscellaneous resources includes International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Corrosion and Road Materials and Pavement Design.
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