Electronic Resource Management Systems: Solution or Disillusion?

By: Willian S.A. FriasHead, Technical Services UnitDe La Salle University Library

Electronic Resource Management Systems (ERMS)

-systems developed to assist librarians in the control of licensed third-party resources published electronically

• license management,• renewal, • legal use, • access management, and • collection development.

How can ERMS, ILS and other services in the library be designed and implemented is such a way that they all work together, providing a clear and seamless interface for library users and avoiding redundant work for library staff?

Concern for the use of ERMS:

ERMS: Solution or disillusion?

Sample ERMS

• Open Source ERMS

a. CUFTS ERM of Simon Fraser University Library

Sample ERMS• Open Source ERMS

b. Sempertool’s Subscription Management Database

a. Innovative Electronic Resource Management

• Commercial ERMS

b. Serials Solution’s 360

Functions of ERMS

1. Single point of maintenance2. E-book management3. Public display functions4. Collection evaluation

• Trial management• Voting functionality for possible

new resources• Overlap analysis• Usage statistics• Cost-per-use analysis• Integration with usage statistics

software

5. License management6. Workflow management7. Reporting8. Acquisitions data9. Contact information10. Cataloging11. Interface customization12. Online costumer

service/training

The DLSU Library Experience

1. Public display functions• EBSCO’s AtoZ

• Webfeat

• Collection management• License management• Workflow management• Reporting, Acquisitions Data and

Vendor Contact Information

Advantages• Increase over-all acquisitions

functionality• Awareness of the need for targeted

promotion and marketing• Facilitating the use of library marketing

options• Quick set up of library branding• Improvement in e-journals web

presence• Increased ability to set up and maintain

full-text links• Closer scrutiny of license terms and

conditions• Improved analysis on e-journal

statistics

As a whole, ERMS• Keeps the library up-to-date• Enables the library to get

more • Catalyst • Facilitator

Disadvantages• Additional cost• Redundancy • Cataloging capability is limited

Solution of Disillusion?

Solution Interoperability

• Adhere to industry standards• Enhance current ILS modules• Develop specific ERM standards