Some conference sessions are just irresistible because of their titles.\u00c2\u00a0 For example, “Ultimate Debate: Has Library 2.0 fulfilled its promise?” Right?\u00c2\u00a0 I know that “Electronic Resource Management Systems: The Promise and Disappointment” would have been just as irresistible to some librarians.\u00c2\u00a0 If you deal with e-resources at work, whether you are cataloging them, acquiring them, setting up access for them, troubleshooting constant issues with them, you will know what I mean.\u00c2\u00a0 I can only imagine how many E-resources librarians have been dreaming about the one ultimate ERM system that would do the magic of cleaning up the messy Hydra-like workflow around e-resources and make ERM less of Sisiphus’ labor.<\/p>\n
I didn’t have much information in advance about this session and guessed it would be more of a panel discussion.\u00c2\u00a0 But actually it consisted of four presentations by librarians who have implemented a ERM system recently.\u00c2\u00a0 The ERMS(E-Resources Management System)es covered in the presentations were SerialsSolutions’ 360 Resource Manager, Verde, and Gold Rush.<\/p>\n
The presenters were (not by the order of presentation):<\/p>\n
I missed the first presentation about SerialsSolutions’ ERM product.\u00c2\u00a0 This was a shame because that is the one I have access to where I work.\u00c2\u00a0 But I know even from my limited experience that this product is not only clunky as an ERMS\u00c2\u00a0 but also lacks many functionalities that any desirable ERMS should probably have.\u00c2\u00a0 I am not going to say I cannot search e-resources in this system by the system’s own identifier nor search any notes that I can attach to e-resources.\u00c2\u00a0 There, I said it… whoops.<\/p>\n
The two presenters expressed much disappointments about Verde, an ExLibris product, particularly about its complexity and rigidity.\u00c2\u00a0 One pointed out that the Verde implementation forced them to fit their workflow around the system rather than fit the system around the workflow.\u00c2\u00a0 It was also mentioned that a lot of vocabularies in Verde which come from the ERMI data dictionary were not familiar to the librarians who worked for Verde implementation and that this delayed the implementation process.\u00c2\u00a0 One presenter said that her library started Verde implementation two years ago but it was still in testing and not in production.<\/p>\n
So, it was a surprise to me that ExLibris is discontinuing Verde development and going for thier new product, URM (University Resource Management) system, instead. I would have liked some discussion about what librarians would like to see ERMS do, but that was not covered much.\u00c2\u00a0 My personal opinion is that ERM workflows are very fluid and iterative (also vary from organization to organization) and the tools offered have been failing to capture this aspect.\u00c2\u00a0 And probably that is why sometimes a homegrown ERM system works better than a complicated but rigid system offered by various vendors.<\/p>\n
The last presentation about Gold Rush<\/a> was of particular interest to me as it seemed to be the only product whose implementation was relatively easy and smooth.\u00c2\u00a0 The cost was also said to be on a less expensive side.\u00c2\u00a0 Texas A&M University library implemented it pretty quickly.\u00c2\u00a0 Overall, it seemed to be a neat small and simple product.\u00c2\u00a0 The presenter pointed out that it doesn’t handle e-books well.\u00c2\u00a0 Gold Rush also doesn’t have many features like Verde and is a stand-alone product\/a hosted solution, which doesn’t talk to an ILS nor to an Open URL link resolver.\u00c2\u00a0 Still, it looked pretty good to me as my library is small and there is no tech-support staff available other than me who will be able to work on the implementation and maintenance of the system.\u00c2\u00a0 So, fast implementation and ease of use would be a big plus to me.<\/p>\n I would have liked to hear from libraries that do not currently have a commercial ERMS product about how they manage their e-resources and what kind of system they use.\u00c2\u00a0 Also, some discussion and experience about open-source ERMes would have been great such as\u00c2\u00a0 CUFTS<\/a> and Univeristy of Wisconsin-La Crosse ERM<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 But it was great to be in the room discussing ERMes with other e-resources librarians.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some conference sessions are just irresistible because of their titles.\u00c2\u00a0 For example, “Ultimate Debate: Has Library 2.0 fulfilled its promise?” Right?\u00c2\u00a0 I know that “Electronic Resource Management Systems: The Promise and Disappointment” would have been just as irresistible to some … Continue reading