In this previous blog post I wrote about one way in which we have enhanced the journal article. Associated with that enhancement, and also sprinkled liberally throughout this blog, are links to a Digital Repository (if you want to read all about it, see DOI: 10.1021/ci7004737). It is a fairly specific repository for chemistry, with about 5000 entries. These are mostly the results of quantum mechanical calculations on molecules (together with a much smaller number of spectra, crystal structure and general document depositions). Today, with some help (thanks Matt!), I decided to take a look at how much use the repository was receiving.
- The first entry in the log dates from 2008-02-05.
- The repository is now receiving about 1200 accesses via handle resolutions each day, which comprises
- ~150 unique client IPs, and
- ~900 unique handles accessed daily
Whilst most of the hits are coming from web spiders by auto-discovery, a fair number (perhaps ~300) of the 5000 entries have also been linked to via journal articles, and of course this blog, and some hits may be presumed to be the result of non-random ping-backs. A breakdown of a typical day (2010-02-10) when 839 unique handles were accessed shows access by, amongst others, five universities, Google/Yahoo, several other information corporations and Microsoft. I had no idea Microsoft was interested in calculations on molecules! You saw that here first!!
Other anecdotal feedback regarding the repository: I often use it to exchange calculations with collaborators, sending them the handle instead of a vast checkpoint or log file. Some collaborators, it has to be said are baffled by the interface presented to them (which was designed in large measure by DSpace, not by us).
It is early days in many ways, and being pretty much the only standards-compliant digital repository operating in chemistry in this manner means that awareness is still low. If anyone reading this blog knows of significant others, please comment.