The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System Rochelle Ballard Jennifer Lang Princeton University Library World Library and Information Congress 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council Satellite Meeting ELECTRONIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS A Solution With Its Own Challenges 16 August 2007

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 2 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University In a Nutshell… Managing electronic resources means getting the right information to the right people at the right time.

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 3 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Who Needs Information? Library selectors Bibliographers Acquisitions and serials staff Cataloging staff Public services staff

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 4 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Traditional Silos In-house databases Spreadsheets messages Paper files

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 5 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Why an ERMS? An electronic resource management system should facilitate “management of the information and workflows necessary to efficiently select, evaluate, acquire, maintain, and provide access to e-resources.” Electronic Resource Management: Report of the DLF Electronic Resource Management Initiative,

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 6 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Populating the System Expected benefits –Initial load –Additional information Hidden benefit –Discovering and implementing the customization options

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 7 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University License Management Expected benefit –Documenting usage rights and restrictions Hidden benefit –Opportunity to re-examine licenses and re-negotiate undesirable terms

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 8 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Dissemination of Information “Central Control Tower” –One stop shopping –Decentralization of management Hidden benefit –Ability to customize presentation of information based on user groups

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 9 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Clean Up Quality control –Reconciling A-Z list with bibliographic database Coverage Title changes Catalog “missed” titles Hidden benefit –Cataloger understanding of vendor and publisher operations

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 10 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Staff Benefits – All Hidden! New alliances Opportunity to learn new technologies Better understanding of each others’ work Outreach

The Hidden Benefits of Implementing an Electronic Resources Management System 11 Rochelle Ballard and Jennifer Lang | Princeton University Thank You! Rochelle R. Ballard Digital Resources Coordinator Princeton University Firestone Library – Technical Services One Washington Road Princeton, NJ Phone: Fax: Jennifer Lang Electronic Resources Cataloger Princeton University Firestone Library Room 2-7-G One Washington Road Princeton, NJ Phone: Fax: This presentation and additional information can be found at