Organizing the Evaluation of Electronic Resources Lenore England, Digital Resources Librarian Li Fu, Digital Services Librarian ALCTS Webinar Wednesday, May 4, 2011 – 2-3 PM, EDT Hosted by ALCTS, the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services 1

I. Introductions 2 Li Fu, Digital Services Librarian Lenore England, Digital Resources Librarian

II. Objectives 3 Complexities of collection development management Solution – ERM Evaluation Central Site Implemented Quickly Diverse Resources, Tools, and Staff Ensure quality of Electronic Resources How to organize evaluation process

Objectives (cont.) Other library possibilities! 4

5 III. UMUC and the Library

About UMUC University System of Maryland Worldwide Non-Traditional Students 100 Bachelors and Masters Programs Doctor of Management Programs 77% of Classes Online 6 Image: ©2011 UMUC. All rights reserved.

UMUC Library Almost Entirely Online Resources, Services, Instruction 28 Staff – 19 Librarians, 9 Staff Mission: –Library and information literacy education –Partnering with UMUCs schools and faculty –Worldwide library resources and services 7 Image: ©2011 UMUC. All rights reserved.

Library Services 24x7 Reference Information Literacy Instruction Online Collections Document Delivery/ILL Circulation of USMAI Consortium Materials E-Reserves in the Online Classroom 8 Image: ©2011 UMUC. All rights reserved.

IV. Poll Getting to know you - What type of organization do you represent? University/Research Library College/Community College Library Special Library Public or K-12 Library Other 9

V. Small Solutions, Big Results 10

Electronic Resources Tools ERM Staff 11 What did we do to organize?

VI. Electronic Resources Evaluation Process 12

The Evaluation Period What is done? –Well in advance –Review and selection –Continuation, addition, or cancellation All done for the next fiscal years budget 13

What can happen? 14 Multifaceted Endless range of electronic resources and tools Unwieldy… Preparation Review Making decisions

Process 15 Evaluation period Spreadsheet Meetings Discussion notes

Process (cont.) 16 Tiered list Main evaluation spreadsheet ERM team: Trials, fact sheets, pricing to Liaisons Blog posting

Process (cont.) 17 Decisions Budget ToolsLibrary staff

VII. Solution: Implement LibGuides 18

Seeking a Solution Reviewed possible ERMS –Commercial: EBSCONet ERM Essentials, CONTENTdm, SharePoint, SpringShare LibGuides –Open Source: Access ERM (aka ERMes), CUFTS, ERMS –ERMS Comparison –Solution found 19

Solution: Springshare LibGuides Designed to host subject guides Familiarity among staff Embedded web 2.0 features Portal to resources, tools & staff Easy to update and maintain Interoperable with existing RIMS 20

Solution Implemented Tour of the LibGuides site –ERM evaluation central siteERM evaluation central site –Template site URL

ERM Evaluation Central Site The UMUC library evaluation central home page 22

ERM Evaluation Central Site (cont.) The UMUC library evaluation central add, upgrade, and drop list page 23

ERM Evaluation Central Site (cont.) The UMUC library evaluation central trials and fact sheets page 24

ERM Evaluation Central Site (cont.) The UMUC library evaluation central liaison information page 25

ERM Evaluation Central Site (cont.) The UMUC library evaluation central final decisions/budget page 26

VIII. Poll Do you use LibGuides for any function other than subject guides, if you have LibGuides at your organization at all? Yes No Thinking about it Not applicable 27

IX. Application to other library areas 28

Other Application Possibilities Cataloging Acquisitions Collection development Subject Specialists Beyond… 29

X. Outcomes and future development 30

Outcomes Streamline the process Heavily used by library staff and liaisons Positive feedback Better understanding of ERM 31

Future Development Integrated with ERMS Content management 32

XI. Conclusions 33

Conclusions Quality and relevance of resources Cost-effective solutions Ready to implement Multiple purposes and out of the box thinking Easy to maintain Evolve over time Apply to other areas 34

Questions or comments? 35

Thank you! 36 Lenore England Li Fu

References England, L., & Fu, L. (2011). Electronic resources evaluation central: Using off the shelf software, Web 2.0 tools, and LibGuides to manage an electronic resources evaluation process. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 23(1), doi: / X England, L., Fu, L., & Miller, S. (Speakers). (2011, April 1). Checklist manifesto for electronic resources: Getting ready for the fiscal year. ACRL 2011 Virtual Conference. [Webcast]. Philadelphia, PA: ACRL. Retrieved from