After presenting Human TERMS of Engagement at ER&L 2014, conversations with librarians new to e-resource management positions and those who are suddenly responsible for managing e-resources led to requests for information about where to start learning more about this important area of librarianship. The following reading list and discussion questions are from my syllabus when I taught a section of LIS 755: Electronic Resource Management and Licensing in Fall 2012 and 2013 for University of Wisconsin – Madison’s School of Library & Information Studies as an asynchronous online class. I share this with hopes that the readings and questions will be helpful to those new to the work.

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Electronic Resource Management and Licensing:
Information for the New and/or Accidental ERM Librarian
What is This Document?
At ER&L 2014, I gave a presentation entitled Human TERMS of Engagement:
Abstract: Only 19% of accredited LIS programs appear to have a course on ERM. Thus, for continued
evolution of online resource management, we need to determine how to share our expertise. This
presentation explores using TERMS and NASIG’s Core Competencies for staff development as well as
teaching a library science course.
- http://tinyurl.com/humanterms
After the presentation, conversations with librarians new to e-resource management positions and those who
are suddenly responsible for managing e-resources led to requests for information about where to start
learning more about this important area of librarianship. The following reading list and discussion questions
are from my syllabus when I taught a section of LIS 755: Electronic Resource Management and Licensing in Fall
2012 and 2013 for University of Wisconsin – Madison’s School of Library & Information Studies as an
asynchronous online class. I share this with hopes that the readings and questions will be helpful to those new
to the work.
Please contact me with questions and feedback: Galadriel Chilton | galadriel.chilton@lib.uconn.edu
Framework
The readings and discussion questions were selected using TERMS: Techniques for Electronic Resource
Management as a framework for understanding and analyzing electronic resource management.
TERMS image by Jill Emery and Graham Stone, used in accordance with their Creative Commons license.
https://library3.hud.ac.uk/blogs/terms/

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Course Readings and Discussion Questions
Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
1 Introduction
 What is electronic
resource management?
 What is an electronic
resources management
librarian?
 How is the ERM
librarian’s work
analogous to Harold and
his purple crayon?
Harold & The Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCStPxnn3GM&list=UUVst
Vj4ME4e2Bzoaee1GfTQ
Galadriel’s Job Description
Course Syllabus
Discussion Question:
From your current knowledge,
how do you think managing e-
resources might be like Harold
and his purple crayon?
Job Ad Review + Discussion:
Search library job posting sites
(e.g. ALA Joblist, The Chronicle
of Higher Education, LisJobs,
etc.) for positions that will be
managing a library’s/libraries’
e-resource collections. Post the
job title and link to the job
posting and then the top three-
five skills you perceive are
sought by the hiring institution.
2 Overview of E-Resources
Management:
 TERMS: Techniques for
Electronic Resource
Management
 Electronic Resource
Librarianship
TERMS: Techniques for Electronic Resource Management
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/15641175710/ms-word-
document-of-the-6-terms
NASIG Core Competencies Task Force. (2013, July 22). NASIG
Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians. In
NASIG: North American Serials Interest Group, Inc.
http://www.nasig.org/files//CoreComp/CompetenciesforERLibr
arians_final_ver_2013-7-22.doc
Discussion Question:
Now, after reading TERMS, the
NASIG's Core Competencies for
ER Librarians, and job
descriptions, would you revise
your statement of how
managing e-resources might be
like Harold and his purple
crayon? How? Why or why
not?

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Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
3 TERMS: Techniques for
Electronic Resource
Management
 Investigate
TERMS #1: Selection
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/9998195897/terms-1-selection
Downey, K. (2012): Managing Selection for Electronic
Resources: Kent
State University Develops a New System to Automate Selection,
Journal of Electronic Resources
Librarianship, 24:2, 127-137
Executive summary of:
Bleiler, R., Livingston, J., & Association of Research Libraries.
(2010). Evaluating e-resources. Washington, DC: Association of
Research Libraries. pp. 11-17.
http://publications.arl.org/Evaluating-Eresources-SPEC-Kit-
316/17
Activity
1. Find an article or blog post
on a method/technique for
investigating and selecting
electronic resources for a
library. Post the citation and a
brief summary that includes
your critical and constructive
pro/con thoughts to the
method/technique discussed.
4 E-Resources Cycle:
 Acquire / License
TERMS #2: Acquisitions
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/10853643700/terms-2-
acquisition
Chapter 1 and 2 in:
MacKinnon, R. (2012). Consent of the networked: The world-
wide struggle for Internet freedom. New York: Basic Books.
Albitz, B. (2008). “Know your copyrights” in Licensing and
managing electronic resources. Oxford, England: Chandos Pub.
Discussion Question:
Why does license negotiation
matter?
5 E-Resources Cycle:
 Acquire / License
Albitz, B. (2008). “The License” in Licensing and managing
electronic resources. Oxford, England: Chandos Pub.
Gruenberg, M. (2012). Planning for and Managing a Sales Call.
Information Outlook, 16(2), 20-23.
Chapter 1 and 2 from:
Discussion Question:
From your life experience,
describe one successful and
one unsuccessful negotiation.
What key actions do you think
lead to the successful or
unsuccessful outcome?

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Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
The Librarian's Guide to Negotiation: Winning Strategies for the
Digital Age by Beth Ashmore, Jeff Weddle, and Jill E. Grogg
How would you apply
successful negotiation
experiences to negotiating e-
resource licenses and cost?
6 E-Resources Cycle:
 Acquire / License
Liblicense Software
http://liblicense.crl.edu/liblicense-software/
Eschenfelder, K. R., Tsai, T., Xiaohua, Z., & Stewart, B. (2013).
How Institutionalized Are Model License Use Terms? An
Analysis of E-Journal License Use Rights Clauses from 2000 to
2009. College & Research Libraries, 74(4), 326-355.
http://crl.acrl.org/content/early/2012/04/16/crl-289.short
Discussion Question + Activity
1. Think of a library and an e-
resource (real or imagined for
either).
2. Download the Liblicense
software and create an ideal
license for licensing the
imagined e-resource for the
imagined library.
3. Post (or attach) a description
of your imagined library and
imagined e-resource as well as
copy of your ideal license and
comments about the process.
4. Comment on at least one
student's ideal license and
provide constructive/concrete
feedback on license clauses
that you perceive work well,
could be improved, and/or
additional terms that may be
needed.

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Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
7 E-Resources Cycle:
 Implement
TERMS #3: Implementation:
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/11578787381/terms-3-
implementation
Helinsky, Z (2007) Marketing to get better mileage from your e-
resources, In: E-Resources Management Handbook. UKSG. ISBN
978-0-9552448-0-3
Kennedy, Marie R. 2011. “What Are We Really Doing to Market
Electronic Resources?” Library Management 32(3): 144-158.
http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/librarian_pubs/1
Discussion Question
How do you learn about new
resources and services?
Now, pick an e-resource, and
based on how you learn about
new resources/services, draft a
statement of how you would
market your chosen e-resource
to its target audience.
Does it include methods
discussed in this week’s
readings? Why or why not?
8 E-Resource Cycle:
 Evaluate
TERMS #4: Ongoing Evaluation & Access
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/12035484643/terms-4-
ongoing-evaluation-access
9 E-Resource Cycle:
Evaluate: Usage
Statistics
Chapters 1 and 2 in:
Fleming-May, R. A., & Grogg, J. E. (2010). The concept of
electronic resource usage and libraries. Chicago, IL: ALA
TechSource.
Discussion Question:
What is good use of an e-
resource?
10 E-Resources Cycle:
Renew, cancel or
replace?
TERMS #5: Annual Review
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/12794354645/terms-5-annual-
review
TERMS #6: Cancellation & Replacement
http://6terms.tumblr.com/post/14328080360/terms-6-
cancellation-and-replacement
Discussion Question:
What are the distinct
challenges of ERM librarians
when it comes to e-resource
acquisition, review, and
renewal?

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Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
Rogers, J. (2012) “Walking away from the American Chemical
Society.” Attempting Elegance.
http://www.attemptingelegance.com/?p=1765
Rogers, J. (2012) “We are not the ones that failed.” Attempting
Elegance.
http://www.attemptingelegance.com/?p=1785
What are the challenges of an
ERM librarian and vendor
relationship?
11 E-Resources:
Access Support
De, R. C., Cantrell, J., Carlson, M., Gallagher, M., Hawk, J.,
Sturtz, C., Gauder, B., OCLC. (2011). Perceptions of libraries,
2010: Context and community : a report to the OCLC
membership. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC.
Resnick, T., Ugaz, A., & Burford, N. (2010). E-resource help desk
into virtual reference: identifying core competencies. Reference
Services Review, 38(3), 347-359.
Discussion Question:
1. Describe your ideal
interaction with e-resources
including:
 Search interface.
 Content of what you
are searching.
2. Describe a time when you
sought
access/technical/customer
support and the experience
was outstanding. What key
components made for a good
outcome?
12 Electronic Resource
Management Systems
Collins, M., & Grogg, J. E. (2011). Building A Better ERMS.
Library Journal, 136(4), 22-28.
Doering, W., & Chilton, G. (2008). A Locally Created ERM: How
and Why We Did It. (Cover story). Computers In Libraries, 28(8),
6-48.
Discussion Question:
Imagine your experiences
searching an online library
catalog; the front and public
side of an integrated library
system. What three things
would you add to an ILS?
Right now commercial and
open source e-resource

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Week Topic Weekly Readings Discussion
Questions/Activities
Doering, W., & Chilton, G. (2009). ERMes: Open Source
Simplicity for Your E-Resource Management. Computers In
Libraries, 29(8), 20-24.
Whitfield, S. (2011). Implementing CORAL: n Electronic
Resource Management System. Computers In Libraries, 31(8),
18-22.
management systems do not
include robust functionality
related to marketing e-
resources. From what you’ve
learned about marketing e-
resources, what
elements/functionality would
you include in an ERMS to
facilitate and track e-resource
marketing and promotion
efforts?