Introduction and literature review

Abstract Librarians and information specialists have been finding ways to manage electronic resources for over a decade now. However, much of this work has been an ad hoc and learn-as-you-go process. Chapter 1 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 49, no. 2) for Electronic Resource shows that the literature on electronic resource management is segmented into many different areas of traditional librarian roles within the library. In addition, the literature shows how management of these resources has driven the development of various management tools in the market, as well as serving as the greatest need in the development of next-generation library systems. Techniques in Electronic Resource Management (TERMS) is an attempt to create an ongoing and continually developing set of management best practices for electronic resource management in libraries. An important role for librarians over the next five to ten years is to provide access to online library resources--free, open-access, or purchased, all valuable resources--in an intuitive, easy-to-use one-stop shop and not to be afraid of running a continual beta test in which new services and functions can be added when necessary. To fill this role, librarians and electronic resources managers need flexible, interoperable resource-discovery systems based on open-source software. In addition, we must continue to assess users' needs and reach out by adapting our systems to fit their requirements, rather than expecting them to come to us; indeed, our very future depends on it. (1) Two decades after the advent of electronic journals and databases, librarians are still grappling with ways to best manage e-resources in conjunction with traditional print resources and at the same time explore new purchasing initiatives and practices, such as demand-driven acquisition of electronic books. In addition, these times of economic austerity are creating budgetary pressures at many institutions of higher education, resulting in librarians having to justify their spending on collections and resource management more than ever. [FIGURE 1.1 OMITTED] Techniques for Electronic Resource Management (TERMS) began in 2008 after a discussion about electronic resource management (ERM), current ERM tools, and what was lacking both in current practice and with the systems available. TERMS expands on Pesch's electronic resources life cycle (see figure 1.1) and seeks to become a reference point for those who are new to ERM, those who have suddenly shifted job functions to oversee ERM, and those who may want to implement its recommendations of best practice. After swapping ideas between the United States and the United Kingdom about what ERM meant, the authors came up with six TERMS (see figure 1.2) and began working on a draft document and plan for a crowdsourcing review. In September 2011, TERMS was launched as a Tumblr blog and publicized via a Facebook group page and Twitter hashtag, enabling scrutiny by open peer commentary and crowdsourcing in order to solicit feedback on the ideas from the library social community. At the time of this writing, the blog has twenty-three direct followers, around 150 Twitter followers, and over 180 Facebook members. TERMS Tumblr blog http://6terms.tumblr.com TERMS Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/174086169332439 6TERMS on Twitter https://twitter.com/6terms During 2012, the latest draft of TERMS was migrated to a wiki in order to be shared, monitored, and updated by librarians throughout the world. The wiki received positive feedback from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, and Brazil, and as a result, a number of the librarians have offered to work on future versions of the wiki as open peer reviewers: * TERMS 1: Investigating New Content for purchase/addition, assigned to Ann Kucera (Baker College, Michigan) * TERMS 2: Acquiring New Content, assigned to Nathan Hosburgh (Montana State University, Montana) * TERMS 3: Implementation, assigned to Stephen Buck (Dublin City University, Ireland) * TERMS 4: Ongoing Evaluation and Access, assigned to Anita Wilcox (University College Cork, Ireland) * TERMS 5: Annual Review, assigned to Anna Franca (King's College, London, United Kingdom) * TERMS 6: Cancellation and Replacement Review, assigned to Eugenia Beh (Texas A&M University, Texas) TERMS Wiki: Main Page http://library. …