Hello Eliza,
Our ToS Advocacy sub-group is trying to build a privacy audit inventory tool and crafting a few questions about analytics and trackers is a project that we are currently working on. Your questions and some of the feedback you've received so far are already helpful.
If there is any chance that you might have time to attend our next Advocacy sub-group call? I, and I'm sure others, would really like to hear more about what you learn at the meeting and how it goes.
Our call will be January 22nd at 1 pm EST. Call info is below. Any others who want to get involved with the Advocacy group please attend or email me with your interest.
Thanks for asking your questions, good luck with the meeting, and happy weekend.
Michelle
Digital Library Federation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Michelle G.
English & Communication Librarian
University of Arkansas Libraries
491 Mullins
479.575.3362
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9197-3849
Happy New Year, ToS-ers!
I’m writing to ask for some impromptu, time-sensitive advice on making a case to library administrators against adopting Google Analytics in service of collecting data about our web pages.
Background:
In 2015, our library switched from Google Analytics to the open-source, locally hosted Piwik for web analytics on our 194 web pages. (For more information, see Chandler, Adam, and Melissa Wallace. “Using Piwik Instead of Google Analytics at the Cornell University Library.” The Serials Librarian 71, no. 3–4 (November 16, 2016): 173–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361526X.2016.1245645 .)
Last year, we got some new administrators, who have asked us our web staff to switch back to Google Analytics. When staff expressed concern over this directive, a meeting was called in which the web staff to will make their anti-GA case to our university librarian and other administrators. I am a public services librarian, and I am not well-versed in the technical aspects of implementing analytics systems, but I was added to the meeting, I believe, because I am generally loud about privacy issues, and teach privacy workshops for patrons and our staff.
At this point, I don’t fully understand the administrators’ reasoning for wanting to return to GA, but I hope to learn more during the meeting.
Current Problem:
We are scrambling to gather evidence and background for the meeting Monday morning.
Here are my questions for you all:
-- Do you have any experience using alternatives to GA for your library web analytics? What positive or negative results have you observed or experienced?
-- Do you have any experience making the case to administrators that your library should avoid GA? How did it go?
-- Any (article-length or shorter) readings you would particularly recommend to librarians and/or administrators who want to understand the issues at stake? (See below for our current collection.)
-- Any other advice or insight you’d like to offer?
In advance, thank you very much! Your input and support are very appreciated.
Eliza
--
Eliza Bettinger
Digital Humanities Librarian
she/her
106 Olin Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853 USA
607-255-4042 (office)
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