From: "Hamaker, Charles" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 03:18:17 +0000

Because of the demand for non-serial electronic resources, we are
creating a new position for handling "non serials" . The position will
have many of the traditional responsibilities of the electronic and
continuing resources librarian, but focus on all the work of keeping
current on non-serial resources. Obviously full text databases that
are not journals, ebooks, which is rapidly becoming a specialist area
by itself, Archive collections (such as archives unbound from Gale)
Making decisions and recommendations on archival ebook collections,
negotiating what are in essence very different contracts than the
standard serial contracts with different issues for users and
libraries, becoming our expert on eresouces non serial  bibliographic
records, i.e. identifying, acquiring, negotiating for whatever kinds
of records we need, file manipulation,(.mrc files to text to KBART
format) comparisons of multiple  record sources (i.e. using MS Access
or SQL to dedup sets_) setting schedules and procedures for regular
downloading of "current updated" monograph collections - such as the
2013 collections from OSO and UPCC which are updated often monthly,
serving as a backstop to all public service problems or
troubleshooting for these resources, Primary contact with vendors and
publishers of these resources. Able to answer detailed questions about
use rights (do we have public performance rights of streaming video,
for instance, -and can we embed Streaming video in Moodle and other
courseware packages, and HOW. Keeping track of the ever changing and
developing landscape of non serial offerings from vendors, negotiating
pricing and other terms (oops that's a repeat) and in general being
our expert in-house for a rapidly growing and changing type of
resource in high demand. Work with subject librarians and faculty to
identify the best resources and because one time monies are a constant
possibility, always be prepared at a moments notice with items in the
que that are needed to support the campus and already negotiated,
priced, ready to be acquired and paid for at a moments notice. Be our
expert to interface with Acquisitions, legal affairs, etc. for these
resources. Responding to patron enquiries, tracking, recommending,
understanding  new products that are not serials  but services
(BrowZine, SIPX,, tablet and smartphone apps etc.) Understanding and
integrating purchasing of non serials into book vendor and other
systems to avoid duplication (ie.. they need to understand and utilize
tools like approval plan profiles to avoid unintentional duplication
with print copies)

As budgets shift dramatically to electronic in non serial areas, this
position will become increasingly important to our response to the
current environment. Its a new frontier and the philosophies,
assessment, care and feeding of these high profile collections need
constant attention., If you have a better name for this kind of
position please suggest it!

And don't take my rambling as all inclusive.
Chuck

________________________________________
From: Steve Oberg <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 00:03:19 +0000

My first comment is that I don't think even in "once upon a time" the
distinction was always as clear as you state, between those who
handled databases and those who handled serials.

Second, in my case the answer is yes, those roles are merged, and I am
part of a group that is called Resource Description and Digital
Initiatives that would in other libraries be considered part of tech.
svcs. (an organizational term we no longer use). However, there seems
to be a wide range of approaches libraries choose. Some e-resources
librarians, for example, are on the public services side rather than
in the tech. svcs. side. Some libraries choose to bifurcate
e-resources responsibility between serial e-resources and non-serial.
Then, too, there is the weirdness of having multiple professional
conferences and/or organizations that cover much the same territory
when it comes to electronic resources, not to mention journals,
discussion lists, etc. I personally think serials librarians have a
natural affinity to the work of e-resources since this type of
resource is most like the kinds of things serials librarians have
dealt with for a very long time.

I am teaching a new course on e-resources management this semester
(UIUC GSLIS) and am purposefully not defining this area for my
students, because it is fluid.

Steve

Steve Oberg
Assistant Professor
Electronic Resources and Serials
Buswell Memorial Library
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL  60187


On Sep 8, 2013, at 4:02 PM, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: "Colson, Jeannie" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 16:10:18 +0000

Colleagues, how is it happening at your institutions? Once upon a
time, serials were (largely) print and databases were electronic, and
different librarians handled the tasks. I’ve had reason to wonder over
the past few months whether that has changed. So many of us subscribe
to e-journal packages…who manages them – serials or electronic
resources, or are those roles now merged?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeannie Colson
Campus Copyright Advisor/Dist. Ed. Librarian
[log in to unmask]
Lee College
Baytown, TX 77522-0818