COUNTER Metrics Seeks Feedback on Best Practices for Open Access Publications

NISO Member News

COUNTER Metrics has opened a consultation on proposals for improving the reporting of usage data for OA content. Developed by the COUNTER OA Working Group, the proposals identify several key challenges in this area, including tracking uses not accessed through an institution, collecting usage data for syndicated content, and linking metadata. The proposals include the Working Group's recommendations for addressing each challenge.

This effort is well aligned with NISO’s work to develop an Open Access Business Processes (OABP) Recommended Practice to facilitate business workflows for OA publications. Indeed, one of COUNTER’s recommendations for addressing the challenge of linking metadata like DOIs and research institutions in usage reporting is to align with the Recommended Practice once it is finalized and published (the draft was released for public comment late last year). (COUNTER Executive Director Tasha Mellins-Cohen is a member of the OABP Working Group.)

COUNTER’s OA Working Group is comprised of representatives from publishers, research institutions, service providers, and others, and they welcome community feedback on their proposals. Visit the COUNTER website to read them and access the consultation form; comments are due by September 27.