Challenges for Electronic Resources Management

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.

The challenges incorporated in every procedure of electronic resource access and management which reflect as:

• 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

How would we overcome these challenges?

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.

Collaborate Efforts within the library are needed

• 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.