Managing Digital Resources in Libraries

Citation

Guevara, S. (2007), "Managing Digital Resources in Libraries", New Library World, Vol. 108 No. 9/10, pp. 466-467. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800710824024

This book is a collection of essays that review current issues in the realm of digital resource management. Divided into four main sections, the issues include: digital resource licensing, the role of the electronic librarian, e‐journal systems and software, and digital resource experiences at various libraries.

I found the sections dealing with digital licensing and e‐journal software the most interesting. In one of the more informative essays, Min Chou and Oliver Zhou focus on digital licensing and its effects on collection management. Reviewing the legal philosophy that is associated with these types of agreements, the authors believe that the motives of the vendor differ from that of the library and this in itself hinders the library's efforts to reach their mission. In order to ease the negative impact, they suggest that libraries promote and use the protections offered by the Fair Use and First Sale doctrines.

Another interesting article details Lund University's development and use of a journal presentation and administration system. Created in Sweden, the Electronic Library Information Navigator was designed to provide the user with a federated search tool that allows for among other things, article level searching within e‐journals. The system includes an administrative tool that provides librarians with journal usage statistics and patron use logs that detail the use of the system's functions. Based on these logs, librarians can determine what they need to focus on when it comes to end‐user training.

Other articles identify the changing role of the traditional librarian, new information delivery systems, and the issues associated with each. Electronic librarians are expected to be flexible, multi‐tasking, and possess a skill set that makes them adept within the technologically‐focused environment. As resources are introduced to increase the amount of information available electronically, the introduction of new resource management tools will follow. As a result, the role and required skill set of librarians will continue to evolve.

Managing Digital Resources in Libraries provides readers with an informative overview of current issues within the digital library world. It is recommended for those who are interested in learning more about digital resource management and the surrounding issues.