The Role of the Electronic Resources Librarian

The Role of the Electronic Resources Librarian focuses on longstanding hurdles to the transition of libraries from print collections, to online information services, all from an Electronic Resources Librarian (ERL) perspective. Problems covered include cost containment for electronic serials, web design, discovery, customer service, efficiency, and adapting organizations to the needs of contemporary users. The title considers the historical development of the ERL role, how the position emerged in North America in the 1990s, how it is represented within the organizational structure of academic libraries, and how the ERL role maps to technology, information services, and professional identity trends.

Explores the changing role of the Electronic Resources Librarian (ERL)Identifies long-term trends in Electronic Resource ManagementRecommends best practices for the ERL role in modern librariesContextualizes the current ERL role in historical and current developmentsMaps the ERL role to trends in technology, information services and the shifting professional identity of academic librarians

1. Introduction 2. The Academic Library Just Before the World Wide Web 3. Digital Dawn: Libraries Experiment and Adapt to New Technology 4. Culture Clash: The Library within the Library 5. Early Trends and Transformation: ERMI, ERMS, and Separate Development 6. The Great Recession and its Impact on Academic Libraries 7. The Reimagining of Technical Services 8. Competencies, Best Practices, and Technical Standards 9. At the Crossroads: Ongoing Efforts to Transform Libraries and Librarians 10. Looking Toward the Future