From: "Le Beau, Chris" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:26:06 +0000 As a public services librarian I handled e-resources for my library in the 1990s at an institution of approximately 6000 students. For that size of institution, this was manageable at that point in time. With the explosive growth of e-resources and all they entail, management seemed to find a better home in Technical Services/Acquisitions/Collection Development (whatever you want to label that) as we began the new millennium, although Public Service librarians usually make the content decisions. I too have been teaching a course in e-resource management for 11 years, and I devote a week to workflow issues and organization where we look at questions like do you organize by format or by serial/non-serial? Do serials encompass databases? How do ERMs or other tools affect this organization? What we used to know as "Technical Services" has morphed into all sorts of new names and shapes in the past ten years. I think each institution has to find the right configuration based on its size and resources, extent of commitment to online vs. print, its aggressiveness with digital initiatives, etc. I agree with Steve, I don't try to define this too rigidly. Back in the 90s the future I saw was one where library staff would be more devoted to "back-end" processes to bring resources to users than to public service (just my own personal vision). It all seemed very Wizard of Oz-ish - lots of librarians in the back room pulling strings and pushing buttons to create an Emerald City landscape of information. ALCTS just did an e-forum on workflow that may address some of your questions. You might want to consult those responses. RUSA CODES addresses issues like this too, as do other organizations. Chris LeBeau Univeristy of Missouri/University of Missouri-Kansas City 816-235-6371