Services for libraries

OAPEN offers libraries seamless access to a curated, peer-reviewed collection of open access (OA) books, alongside tools and support for integration into library systems. Our services enhance metadata quality, ensure preservation, and boost discovery enabling libraries to deliver value to their users efficiently and effectively.

Metadata and integration

OAPEN provides freely available, high-quality metadata feeds to support the discovery, integration, and management of OA books within library systems. These feeds are updated daily and offered in the following formats: ONIX 3.0, MARCXML, CSV, JSON, KBART, HTML, and RSS. Explore our metadata formats.

To meet the diverse needs of libraries, OAPEN has developed a flexible export tool that enables bespoke metadata delivery. OAPEN can create custom exports for libraries based on subject area, language, publication type, and update frequency. Choose from any of our available output formats and set your access preferences. Find out more about the flexible export tool.

We collaborate with major library service providers such as ProQuest (Serials Solutions), Ex Libris (Primo Central), and EBSCO Discovery Service to ensure broad dissemination of our collection. OAPEN records are also integrated into global platforms like WorldCat (OCLC), BASE, and we serve as an aggregator for Europeana. Our site is optimised for search engines, indexed by Google Scholar, and supports OAI-PMH harvesting for easy metadata retrieval.

Usage statistics and analytics tools

The OAPEN Library Dashboard

OAPEN offers a dedicated usage dashboard, designed to deliver COUNTER-conformant usage statistics for the OAPEN Library. The dashboard enables supporting libraries to monitor and download the usage data for their institution.

Each dashboard is specific to the supporting library and is securely accessed via a unique login. Usage data is updated monthly and reflects the COUNTER Code of Practice Release 5, ensuring that statistics are standardised, authoritative, and directly comparable across platforms. The primary metric reported is Total_Item_Requests, which counts full content views (e.g. PDF downloads).

To maintain accuracy, IRUS filters out known automated activity using both the COUNTER and IRUS robot lists. Duplicate clicks such as multiple download attempts within 30 seconds are consolidated into a single request.

Preview the dashboard in this short demo video.

OPERAS Metrics

In addition to the dashboard, item-level usage analytics are available via the OPERAS Metrics widget displayed on each book webpage. While the dashboard reports total item requests, OPERAS Metrics provides data on unique item requests, offering a complementary perspective on how your content is being accessed.

Together, these tools give libraries a fuller picture of engagement with the OA books their patrons are accessing in the OAPEN Library.

Affiliated publishing entities

As part of our commitment to supporting open access book publishing, OAPEN offers waived fees for publishing services to libraries that financially support our infrastructure and have affiliated publishing entities. This benefit ensures that supporting institutions not only contribute to a shared, sustainable ecosystem but also receive tangible value through free access to OAPEN’s core services, such as hosting, dissemination, metadata distribution, and preservation. Read more about our services for publishers.

Contact

Contact one of our community managers, Sebastiano Sali or Silke Davison, to find out more and learn about supporting us.