Background: The Cochrane Library iPad edition was launched in December 2012. Each issue contains an editorial and up to 12 specially abridged and enhanced Cochrane Reviews chosen by the Editor-in-Chief. The app was devised to provide a new platform for the dissemination of Cochrane Systematic Reviews and is free to download via the Apple iTunes Store.

Objectives: Prior to launch, the primary aim was to offer an attractive new platform for reading Cochrane Reviews to existing users of The Cochrane Library and to entice a new audience to Cochrane Reviews. It was hoped that users of the app would ‘click through’ to access the full text Cochrane Reviews on www.thecochranelibrary.com.

Methods: iTunes Connect and Google Analytics have been used to collect data on visitors to the app since launch. A short online survey of users will also be conducted.

Results: In the first 4 months of release the app was installed 11 967 times. Is the iPad app proving to be popular with both new and existing users of The Cochrane Library? Are users visiting from the iPad app the full text versions of the Cochrane Reviews? The user survey will be analysed and presented together with usage data from the first six months following release of the app.

Conclusions: As the app has been downloaded nearly 12 000 times since launch it is clear that it is appealing to a wide audience. Conclusions will be drawn from the analysis once the data is available.