“Collections as a service” is just ERM done right
L. Angie Ohler (2018) ERM Ideas and Innovations, Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 30:1, 37-41, DOI: 10.1080/1941126X.2018.1443911
Abstract: At the University of Maryland Libraries, Angie Ohler, Director of Collection Services, discusses the history of the management of electronic resources for the past ten years at the Maryland Libraries, including the challenges of in an ever-changing environment and solutions she developed over time. The history she describes are lessons learned over time, that provided her with a flexible approach to ERM collection development as a “just in time” means of keeping e-resources relevant at the University of Maryland.
Notes:
Four things:
“First, the ubiquitous nature of electronic resources does not mean they are easier to acquire or manage.”
“Second, the ease of production for electronic materials meant a sharp increase in the amount of scholarly materials produced, flooding the information marketplace with new works.“
“Third, as more and more libraries grappled with the challenges of stagnant or declining materials budgets in the face of inflationary increases well beyond the consumer price index, many have come to the conclusion that building collections ‘just in case’ is simply not sustainable.“
“And fourth, the role of the library in relation to the users we serve has changed, whether we are willing to admit it or not.“
Libraries should “reconceive collections as a service”.
Thought: This seems mostly to be garbage, nonsense phrase as most of the changes described seem to be mostly for internal efficiency’s and communication’s sake. Collections are no more thought of as a service than they have ever since resources became “e”.
eResources acquisition is sometimes at least partially handled by IT staff which can cause problems, mostly in communication.
Sample eresource management structure: “...collection development managed trials, evaluated the resource, and initiated the conversation leading to licensing. Acquisitions managed licensing negotiations and ordering and acted as the first line of troubleshooting for e-access troubleshooting. A reorganized cataloging unit called Metadata Services worked with Acquisitions to establish access and make resources discoverable. Public services staff reported problems they encountered to the troubleshooters in acquisitions, who worked closely with the helpdesk in the IT unit to resolve problems when they proved to be more technological than order related.”