Electronic Resources Librarianship: A Practical Guide for Librarians

by Holly Talbott, Ashley Zmau

Overview

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 toolkit
• Sample worksheets, email scripts, and checklists
• Real-world troubleshooting problems and solutions
• Practical strategies for organizing and prioritizing work
• Comprehensive list of support groups, so readers are never at a dead end

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538107300
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/31/2018
Series:	Practical Guides for Librarians , #52
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.60(d)

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.

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

Editorial Reviews

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!

Serials Review

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.

Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship

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.

Choice Reviews

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.

Technical Services Quarterly

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.

Jill Emery

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.

Choice

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.

CHOICE