Collecting actionable analytics from our Blacklight-based discovery layer using the ahoy gem

Using the ahoy rails gem, I am able to collect very detailed analytics data about how Find It (our discovery layer) is used.

To inform information literacy instruction and publicity:

• A monthly count of unique visitors
• A monthly count of searches

To inform information literacy instruction:

• Average length (in minutes) for each session

To inform collection development work and search tuning:

• A quarterly list of searches that return 0-5 results
• A monthly report that includes % of total searches that return under 10 results

To inform interface design and information literacy instruction:

• Relative popularity of certain facets
• % of searches that use facets

To determine whether or not additional qualitative assessment is required:

• Percentage of users who return within three months

Other analytics gem for RoR projects: https://github.com/jronallo/blacklight_google_analytics