Electronic Resource Management Systems: A Workflow Approach

by Elsa K. Anderson

To get to the bottom of a successful approach to Electronic Resource Management (ERM), Anderson interviewed staff at 11 institutions about their ERM implementations. Among her conclusions, presented in this issue of Library Technology Reports, is that grasping the intricacies of your workflow analyzing each step to reveal the gaps and problems at the beginning is crucial to selecting and implementing an ERM. Whether the system will be used to fill a gap, aggregate critical data, or replace a tedious manual process, the best solution for your library depends on factors such as your current software setup, staffing levels, and local support from systems staff. Providing guidance to library technology decision-makers, this report offers coverage of such important topics as: The five major elements of managing electronic resources: knowledge bases, acquisitions, administration and contracts, licensing, and reporting; Vendor systems from EBSCO, Ex Libris, and Innovative Interfaces, as well as three open source (OS) solutions; How ERMs function as a component of the library service platforms of OCLC Worldshare, Ex Libris Alma, Serial Solutions Intota, Kuali OLE, and Innovative Interfaces Sierra"

47 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Matt Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the topic with some good suggestions of things to do in assessing ERMS need and ERM processes in general, and good information about the options available and things to consider. Everytime I read something like this, I think of all the things I really should be doing in my Library, how much work it would take, all the other things I need to do, and the problems that happen because I don't get to it. I would recommend this for any new(ish) electronic resources librarian, heads of collections or library systems or tech services, and maybe even those working in any part of the ERM process using any of the tools mentioned, particularly if you've not used more than one or are feeling the need to do something about ERM in your institution.