Rick Kerns Presenter

Bio: Rick Kerns Presenter is an academic researcher. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 5 citations.

Rethinking Electronic Resources Workflows

Abstract: After the technical service department at the University of Northern Colorado's James A. Michener Library underwent a major reorganization, Rick Kerns and his team were given the task to streamline and enhance various electronic resource workflows using internally developed tools. Kerns discussed the development of an interactive form to check e-journal holdings using a Microsoft Access database. He then described the Electronic Serial Correction Form and the Electronic Order Form, which were developed to change paper workflow into an electronic one, making the routing process easier and the forms clearer, more accurate, and searchable. A brief summary of this session, also authored by Ning Han, appeared in the “E-resource Roundup” column of the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, Volume 23, Issue 1 (2011: March).

From the Editors: E-Resources in Interlibrary Loan—Breaking Departmental Barriers

Abstract: Managing e-resources in interlibrary loan and reserves offers plenty of challenges. E-resources live in a world of “no.” Licensing restrictions tell us no, you may not, while the multitudinous platforms and delivery methods tell us no, you cannot. Yet libraries are continually searching for newer, better, faster, and cheaper options for delivering content to our users. Electronic resources can be easier and faster to share, cheaper to deliver, and consume fewer natural resources and less storage space than their print counterparts. In short, they would seem to be the ideal option for resource sharing. So how do we get all of our e-resources into the world of “yes”? Consider that electronic content is not so much an acquisition as it is a commitment to monitor access and license agreements with a panoply of vendors. Electronic resources, serials, and acquisitions departments do not simply process materials when they arrive and release them to stacks management when those materials are digital. Likewise, interlibrary loan (ILL), document delivery, and reserves cannot simply pull and copy materials, bag them, and send them out when those materials are digital. In the print framework, the departments doing the ordering and receiving and the departments doing the ILL and reserves never had an urgent need to communicate. If a desired item was listed “on order” in the OPAC, an enterprising ILL staffer might check with acquisitions about expected arrival time. Over the years, our departments had become “siloed,” unaware of each other’s processes and workflows, and perhaps, in some places, unwilling to share expertise and resources. Technical services departments, serials units in particular, came to grips relatively early with the changes in workflow that e-resources present. NASIG conference programs from the last 5–7 years feature many presentations devoted to the departmental reorganization, personnel repositioning, and staff retraining needed to deal with the impact of electronic resources on traditional serials workflows (Han & Kerns, 2010; Mi, Sullenger, & Loghry, 2006). A pervasive theme in the technical services literature is the importance of providing as much access as possible to all the resources the library has paid for, access in this case defined as either MARC records or some kind

Techniques for Electronic Resource Management (TERMS): From Coping to Best Practices

Abstract: Most of us cope with our electronic resources, but how well do we really manage them throughout their entire life cycles, from first awareness of their existence until their cancellation or cessation? This workshop will build upon the Feb/Mar 2013 'Library Technology Reports' on Techniques for Electronic Resource Management. Led by the 2 authors of that report, this hands-on workshop will combine short lectures interspersed with small group hands-on work. Participants will develop the ability to create their own set of best practices for ERM that they can use within their own institutions. This day-long workshop will feature a number of short lectures from two recognized electronic resource management experts. Each short lecture will be followed by hands-on exercises completed by audience members, who will divide themselves into smaller work groups during the exercises. Work groups will have time to share with the larger audience the results of their smaller group work. Takeaway #1: Participants will be able to list the six workflows that comprise the TERMS framework. Takeaway #2: Participants will be able to create a set of best practices for electronic resource management workflows within their individual libraries.

Managing Selection for Electronic Resources: Kent State University Develops a New System to Automate Selection

Abstract: Kent State University has developed a centralized system that manages the communication and work related to the review and selection of commercially available electronic resources. It is an automated system that tracks the review process, provides selectors with price and trial information, and compiles reviewers’ feedback about the resource. It manages workflow for departments that provide services for pricing requests and dispenses product and trial information to targeted selectors. The principal benefits of the system are the reclamation of costly staff time, improved communications, a method to apply standards for selection, coordination for the discovery and review of new resources, and the provision of records of past reviews to help prioritize resources for future purchases. This paper provides a context for the conditions that lead to its development, the implementation, its effect on communications, and improvements to workflow as it relates to product research.

Life Cycle Package Management for Print and Electronic Resources: Cross-training a Customer-oriented Technical Services Team

Abstract: Several years ago, North Carolina State (NC State) University Libraries technical services department, Acquisitions & Discovery (AD staff ownership of packages; and improved staff follow-through, consistency, and ability to troubleshoot. Key positions were reimagined to support this effort. This included the creation of a staff package manager role in the serials unit to provide oversight of e-journal packages, distribute work to staff, and create and maintain an information dashboard (the Electronic Resources Hub) for staff as well as for other stakeholder departments across the libraries. The monographs unit has recently adopted a similar integrated approach to manage NC State's growing collection of e-books. This chapter will outline AD describe the associated tools and technologies used for support; and discuss lessons learned. Benefits will be discussed to illustrate how other libraries might transform their electronic resource management operations by using a package management strategy.