The most significant challenges to managing electronic resources in an academic environment are:
- The number of electronic resources available on the Web has grown dramatically since mid-1990s.
- Libraries are beginning to depend heavily on electronic resources.
- Existing integrated library systems (ILS) can not handle the functions necessary for effective electronic resources management.
- Management of these identified resources has become somewhat difficult.
- User expects libraries to provide similar levels of simplicity as Google.
- Acquisition challenges: Defining the value of subscription; Product selection and trial; Ordering; Managing and keeping track of license agreements
- Implementation
- Establishing access, managing links, setting up cross-Reference etc.
- Cataloging: Integrate commercial online materials substantially into library collection and OPAC.
- Web presentation: present e-resources on the library Web site.
- Providing user support and trouble shooting.
- Use assessment and analysis need to be done in order to do evaluation for cancellation or renewal
- Preservation
- What supposed to be persevered since content in e-resources is leased and the library doesn’t own it.
- How are we going to preserve the e-content
Cooperative Effort and management are needed
- Cooperative efforts from libraries, consortia, publisher, serial agents and support companies, and library system vendors are needed.
- The formation of a consensus that standards to help guide the development of ERM systems were indeed desirable.
- ERM systems need to be overlaid on or otherwise linked to existing tools, such as Serials or acquisition systems, online catalogs and e-resources gateways. It is therefore critical to establish predictable pathways among variant data streams.
- Electronic Resource Librarian set up a trial of product.
- Subject liaisons or Reference Group work with faculty closely to suggest/review a trial of products and gather feedback on them.
- Consortia purchasing and pricing can conserve budget.
- Scholarly Communication reform initiatives
- Selection policies and Strategic plans
- Selection guidelines need consider content, added values, technical considerations, licensing and business arrangements and service impact etc.
- Electronic Resource Librarian work with System person to implement access issues.
- Usage analysis and user feedback to help on the renewal/cancellation decision.
- Build digital repository for electronic content we own.
