Transcript Current State of Library Organizations in Dealing with E

Current State of Library
Organizations in Dealing with
E-Resources
Impact of E-Resources
North Carolina Serials Conference
April 16, 2004
Presented by Janet L. Flowers
Head of Acquisitions
Academic Affairs Library
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
[email protected]
Themes
 Natural area for serials realm
 Focus upon provision of intellectual
content
 Technical now under better control than
public presentation and training
Organization
 Requires a cast of thousands!
 Very time-consuming
 Absorbed by existing staff in their
existing but redefined positions mainly
Organization
 Worked to death but very effective!!
 Some aspects of handling e-resources better
done by experts (e.g., acquisitions, cataloging)
 Only one with a separate department for eresources (a public library)
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Created a Department of Electronic Resources and
Services
In January 2004!
Organization
 Approaches
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Evolutionary
Improvisational
Muddling
Experimental
Based upon existing staff : skills and interests
Organization
 Division of Responsibilities: Pros
and Cons of Consolidated vs.
Decentralized
Consolidation Pros
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Continuity and Consistency
Consolidation Cons
 Workload too much for one person
 Delays if relying upon one person
 So much reliance upon one person
problematic for communication
 One case where staff member had to
access email while on medical leave to
keep processes going
Decentralization Pros
 Use of specialized skills
 Spreads workload around
 Better understanding among all staff
regarding issues
 Better decision-making regarding
selection and budgetary choices because
of greater understanding
Decentralization Cons
 Possibility of miscommunication
 Need for trust among parties regarding
work done and respect for
Factors Affecting Way
Organizations Evolved
 Retirements!—either happened or waiting
for!
 New hires—if only!
 Maturing of process
 Codification of processes
 Move cautiously
 Much consensus and librarian involvement in
decision making
Factors Affecting Way
Organizations Evolved
 Unions
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Slow down needed changes
Inhibits flexibility
 Local staff in place
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Their skills
Their interests
 Library Directors!!
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Their interest in e-resources!!
Their style regarding change
Needs
 More technical help
 Catch up on making free e-resources
available
 Help with maintenance issues
 Renewals
 Broken Links
 Package Deal
Needs
 Trainers to help public
 Removal of non e-resource related duties
from those who are doing add on work
Future Directions
 E-resources themselves
 Government documents
 Increasing amounts in this format
 Less print available and collected
Future Directions
 Organizational Responses to e-resources
 Older librarians becoming more adept at
using technology
 Serials Units refocused from print to
electronic
 Traditional technical services (i.e., print)
roles will be outsourced
Future Directions
 In house library staff will focus on
providing access to digital content
 Move from checkin
 Maintenance activities (url links, list
checking, reconciliation)
 Job descriptions will need to be rewritten
Future Directions
More prominent role in outreach to public
regarding use of e-resources
Vast changes have outstripped patrons' ability
to comprehend and navigate
More BI packages (one place had cut back on
reference librarians!)
Future Directions
 Serials Librarians more involved in
assessment and evaluation of online
resources prior to purchase decision
 Will replace retiring librarians with those
knowing new technologies
Future Directions
 Budget Impact
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Smaller libraries moving more to consortial
Fewer multi-year contracts
More centralization of state-wide resources
Possibly more cancellation of big deal
packages
 Less duplication of print and online
 Cancellation of print due to space crunches
Conclusion: My Thoughts
 Librarians have coped well with the
ambiguity and the huge volume.
 Until the volume flips towards more
digital than print, we still must contend
with a hybrid environment.
Conclusion: My Thoughts
 Rate of change will vary depending upon
a number of factors
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Size and nature of library's print collections
Funding
Library Directors -especially new ones
Patron Demands
Staffing (size and abilities)
Changes in the Academy
Crystal Ball
 Yet more changes
 Continuing high level of work
 Need for the expertise and energy of
serials librarians to meet the challenges
Sea Change
 In the way we do business
 In the way we provide information
 In who does what
Presented by Janet L. Flowers
Head of Acquisitions
Academic Affairs Library
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
[email protected]