1. Evaluating the value and impact of PDA:
case studies from University College Dublin,
University of Leeds and University of Sussex
Eoin McCarney &
Mark Tynan
UCD Library
UKSG 37th Annual Conference & Exhibition,
HIC, Harrogate
Monday 14th & Tuesday 15th April 2014

2. What we will cover
• What is PDA?
• How PDA worked in UCD
• Which subjects spent the most money?
• Print PDA versus electronic PDA
• The pros and the cons of PDA

3. University College Dublin
• What is PDA?
• How PDA worked in UCD
• Which subjects spent the most money?
• Print PDA versus electronic PDA
• The pros and the cons of PDA

4. http://www.swets.com/sites/default/files/blog/multiple-bod-
icons-in-speech-bubble-crowdsourcing-120235078-converted.gif

5. How did it work?
• National Tender & Framework agreement –
18th October 2012
• Proceeded with Ingram Coutts as supplier –
2nd April 2013
• Subject profiling – April 2013
• Live with E-PDA – 3rd May 2013
• Live with Print-PDA – 27th June 2013
• Project ended – 18th October 2013

8. What next?
Users search the catalogue and click
on the item
E-PDA item in the catalogue – 1st click

9. e-Books
They see this screen
Passing here is one view which last 24
hours
Passing here a second time triggers a
seamless purchase
3 concurrent users
Perpetual access
E-PDA item in the catalogue – 2nd click

10. Print PDA items in the catalogue

12. PDA in UCD - Stats
• Records Uploaded: 35,167 (P) 19,337 (E)
• Total Spend: €216,000
• Total Orders: 2,172
• E–PDA Orders placed – 1,128
• Print PDA Orders placed – 1,044
• Average price of e-PDA book: €149.84
• Average price of print-PDA book: €45.51

13. Business
14%
Politics
9%
Philosophy
7%
English, Drama & Film
7%
Medicine 7%
Psychology
6%
History & Archives
5%
Law
5%
Education
5%
GPEP
4%
Business
Politics
Philosophy
English, Drama & Film
Medicine & Medical Science
Psychology
History & Archives
Law
Education
GPEP
E-PDA Orders by School (Top Ten Only)

14. Print-PDA Orders by School (Top Ten Only)
English, Drama & Film
10%
Politics
7%
History & Archives
7%
Business
6%
Medicine
6%
Law
6%
Sociology
6%
Art History 5%
Architecture
5%
Psychology
4%
English, Drama & Film
Politics
History & Archives
Business
Medicine & Medical Science
Law
Sociology
Art History & Cultural Policy
Architecture
Psychology

15. Comparative Usage of PDA and Non-PDA E-Book Titles
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
Total E-PDA Usage
during Pilot Period
Average E-PDA Usage
per Title during Pilot
Period
Total Non PDA E-Book
Usage during Pilot
Period
Average Use per Non-
PDA E-Book Title during
Pilot Period
9507
8.43
1413
3.27

16. Comparative Usage of PDA and Non-PDA Print Book Titles
1.32
1.04
0.63
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Print PDA
Reading Lists
Firm Orders

17. Challenges of PDA in UCD
• Communication and marketing
• Volume & timing
• Disruption to departmental workflow
• Over 300 print orders not collected
• ‘Flooding’ of the Catalogue
• Poor quality of print MARC records
• Overlap: Multiple editions of the same text

18. What worked well?
• Subject profiling – Little, if any, inferior
material ordered
• The money got spent very quickly
• Hugely popular with students and staff
• Broad subject appeal
• Technology very robust

19. Next steps
• We have continued with PDA (E & Print)
• Made slight amendments to subject profiles
• Re-launched PDA in March 2014
• Reduced allocation - €100,000
• Review again at end of project

20. Thank you
Eoin.McCarney@ucd.ie
353-1-7167575
@eoinmc73
Mark.Tynan@ucd.ie
353-1-7167165
@MarkTynan1