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Using Google Analytics with the Library Websites
Dr Tony Hirst, Hassan Sheikh

This event took place on 14th January 2009

In order to better understand Library website usage, and identify possible site design problems, we installed Google Analytics (in November 2007) to track and analyse the website traffic. Although the Open University runs the Site Analytics across the whole Open University web domain, Google Analytics provides a lower barrier to entry in terms of allowing inexperienced users to easily create eye catching graphical reports that provide information on the source of traffic (where visitors came from), what pages and areas they visited, how long they stayed on each page, how deep into the site they navigated, where their visits ended, where they went from each page and so on.
In this seminar we’ll share our experience of using Google Analytics tool with OU Library website. We are still at the early stages of the journey into using web analytics to drive the ongoing design of the Open Library website, educating ourselves not only about the data that is available from web analytics, but also understanding how that data is collected, what it actually means, and how we can use it to improve the online experience of our patrons.

Everyone is very welcome to attend but spaces are limited so please indicate your interest as soon as possible to ensure your place. Please contact Library-Promotions@open.ac.uk for bookings. Please assume that you have a place unless we contact you to say otherwise. Location maps for The Open University can be found at: www3.open.ac.uk/contact/locations.aspx.

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Click below to play the event (62 minutes)