Electronic Resources Librarianship

Electronic Resources Librarianship: A Practical Guide for Librarians will help new e-resources librarians to hit the ground running. Simultaneously a step-by-step guide and comprehensive toolkit, the book walks readers through their first few days on the job, giving them the practical skills to immediately begin engaging with vendors, diagnosing access issues, tracking usage, and making well-informed retention decisions. Further, it sets readers up for long-term success by talking about project planning and goal setting in an environment of continuous change, as well as advice on how to pass on their newly acquired e-resource knowledge to others. This easy-to-read guide addresses several ever-present issues for both new and established e-resource librarians: the need for concrete tools to implement in their day-to-day tasks, the need to gain goal setting and project management skills to thrive and not just survive, and the need to overcome feelings of anxiety and isolation. Acting as a ready reference, Electronic Resources Librarianship will help steer librarians through the intricacies of the daily e-resource grind while giving them the tools and the confidence to handle even the most complex challenges. Special Features include: Extensive technology toolkitSample worksheets, email scripts, and checklistsReal-world troubleshooting problems and solutionsPractical strategies for organizing and prioritizing workComprehensive list of support groups, so readers are never at a dead end

Table of Contents:
Dedication Contents List of Figures and Tables Preface Part 1 Chapter 1. Electronic Resources in Libraries What is an Electronic Resource? What Does an Electronic Resources Librarian Do? The Evolving Duties of Electronic Resources Librarians Chapter 2. Let’s Talk Tech Basic Terminology Access Tools Methods of Authentication Knowledge Management Systems Chapter 3. Working with Vendors Working with Vendors Domestic and International Vendors Types of Vendors Initial Contact Vendor Administration Portals Chapter 4. Acquisitions Pricing Options Serials Firm Orders Databases Budgeting and Renewals Chapter 5. The Help Desk Soliciting Help Tickets Reporting Methods Recreating and Diagnosing Problems Following Up Access Triage Preventing Access Issues Subscription Maintenance Checklist Chapter 6. Licensing What is a License? Parts of a License Clauses to Keep an Eye On Evaluating a License Negotiating a License Physical and Electronic License Organization Developing relationship between libraries and vendors Chapter 7. Usage Statistics Show Me the Numbers Analyzing Your Data Making Narratives for Your Data Thinking Outside the Box Chapter 8. Collection Development What is Collection Development? Bridging the Gap Between Collection Development Staff and Technical Services Collection Development Maintenance Projects Part 2 Chapter 9. Your First Ninety Days Questions You Need Answered People You Need to Meet Tools for Your Toolkit Chapter 10. Goal Setting and Time Management Defining Goals Developing Habits Time Management Tips and Tricks Time Logs: Moving Towards Your Ideal Work Week Chapter 11. Training Others Creating Effective Documentation The Art of Delegation How to Train Effectively The Feedback Loop Leading a Team of Specialists as an E-resources Librarian Chapter 12. Support Systems Vendor Support Centers and Training Professional Groups, Conferences, and Listservs Cold Calling Professional Colleagues Appendix 1 License Review Checklist Appendix 2 Worksheet: Questions You Need to Ask Appendix 3 Worksheet: People You Need to Meet

About the Author :
Holly Talbott currently works as the Electronic Resources and Licensing Librarian at the University of Arizona. Previously, she was the Electronic Resources Librarian at Lasell College and the E-serials Specialist at the University of Texas at Arlington. Ashley Zmau has over five years’ experience working with electronic resources. She currently works in the Acquisitions Department for the Dallas County Community College District. Previously, she was the Assistant Librarian for E-resources at the University of Texas at Arlington and the Electronic Resources Management Librarian at Southern Methodist University.

Review :
In a field characterized by rapidly shifting paradigms, Electronic Resources Librarianship provides a realistic, up-to-date introduction for new electronic resources librarians based on the definitive TERMS (Techniques for Electronic Resources Management) system and NASIG (North American Serials Interest Group) Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians. Unlike earlier how-to guides that centered primarily on ejournals or evaluating websites, Talbott (Univ. of Arizona) and Zmau (Dallas County Community College District) include as eresources any media that has been purchased or licensed through a third-party vendor and accessed remotely over a network. Each chapter includes key points and numerous readings; relevant support groups are listed in a final chapter. In keeping with the practical nature of the book, the useful appendixes cover the nitty-gritty, with detailed worksheets listing all the people the new librarian needs to meet in the first 90 days, complete with questions that he or she needs to ask. There is mention of associated skills needed—leading teams, delegating, and task management. . . there is some attention given to email management, time management techniques, and software tools to help handle the eresources life cycle effectively. Summing Up: Recommended for library professionals and graduate students. Electronic Resources Librarianship provides the reader with the kind of on-th-job technical education that I only obtained through much trial and error, and the asking of many questions. Moreover, it provides essential guidance on the interpersonal skills - negotiating and working with vendors, for example - not to mention time management, that I received working side-by-side with my director. The book is very well written and provides exactly what it promises. This book is highly recommended for new electronic resource librarians needing a solid guide to a very complicated position. It would also be useful to any librarian wanting to understand the relationship between electronic resources, library users, vendors, and librarians. I only wish I had access to this book a decade ago when I shifted into electronic resources from managing print serials! Holly Talbott and Ashley Zmau have created an elemental text for the new electronic resources librarian. The most significant parts of this work are the sections providing advice on the initial 90 days of work along with the establishment of goals and time management strategies. As stated by the authors, Electronic Resources Librarianship is targeted at newly minted electronic resource librarians-individuals straight out of library school, with no management experience and no experience with electronic resources beyond that of an end-user. By far the most unique feature of this book is the last section, which focuses on developing management skills within the context of an electronic resources position–effectively becoming a mentor-from-afar… [N]ew electronic resource librarians will be well-armed to meet the challenges of electronic resource management.