E-Resources Lifecycle
Step 1: Information Gathering
For this first step, you are getting information on the e-resource that you would like to purchase. You are conducting research on it to see if it is going to fit the needs of the library. You are making sure the e-resource is accessible, and the content that is provided matches what the patrons of the library need. Looking at the product's price and if it can work with the budget.
*Specifically for UMW, you will need to see if the e-resource is compatible with the system Primo
Step 2: Acquisition/Purchasing
Getting more into the material(s)’ pricing and looking at the licensing agreements. Speaking with vendors, when everything gets approved you are now looking to purchase the items. Once the items are purchased, it is always important to have a copy of the invoice. With any transaction, you should have a receipt. In case anything goes wrong, having a copy of the invoice will allow you to prove that you have paid for the material(s).
Step 3: Setting Up Access
This step takes a bit of time. Some of the records are already available on OCLC but sometimes a record has to be created. Checking the OCLC EZproxy database stanzas will be helpful. It supplies a database A-Z list. You will then have to make the items discoverable in the ILS. It is essential to properly brand the new e-resource. Displaying that it is new and would be beneficial for students, faculty, and others will make more people check it out. It is crucial to test the access of the database from the public interface. You have to know that the public can be able to use it.
Step 4: Ongoing Administration and Troubleshooting
The next step involves looking over the e-resource and making sure it works well and figuring out all of the kinks. This means updating and maintaining the holdings accuracy, improving and correcting the metadata, and fixing the broken access points. You also need to communicate the terms of use and any updates or changes that are happening to the product. (During my practicum EBSCO changed its UI and I got to see what I liked and did not like about the new UI). If there are any customization or configuration changes they need to be addressed as well. It is necessary to stay on top of any changes to e-resource, to make sure all the changes are still accessible and work within the database.
Step 5: Evaluation
You will need to check the statistics and see how many people are using the e-resource. By using COUNTER and SUSHI, two statistics programs that work well together to provide insight on how the e-resource is being used. Faculty input will be useful because they can provide insight on how well the materials work in their class. Finally, when checking the annual inflation, you can see if the e-resource can still be added to the budget.
Step 6: Renew or Cancel
If the e-resource is now priced higher than it needs to be and students and faculty are not using it then the subscription can be canceled. If there has been positive feedback, the usage statistics are good, and the annual inflation can still fit within the budget then the product can be renewed.
