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