1. With the growth of electronic resources, easy-to-use open
web search engines, and the need to maintain up-to-date
library management solutions, René Verwijmeren, IT Manager
at the Erasmus University Rotterdam library, turned to the
support of Serials Solutions.
Established in 1973, the Erasmus University Rotterdam Library
recently found itself lacking the technology necessary to keep
up with advancements in the search and discover industry.
Through the installation of Serials Solution’s 360 Link and
the Summon Service, Erasmus University Library was able to
tackle their technological issues and dramatically improve
their service offering.
MANAGING CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF
E-RESOURCE COLLECTION
Trying to manage the continuous growth of electronic
resources can be an overwhelming task for any Library.
In order to streamline staff workflows and increase
productivity through effective management of e-resources,
Verwijmeren sought out an electronic resource manager.
Providing accurate, up-to-date results when searching for
specific full-text items in electronic databases and journals,
Serials Solutions’360 Link proved the ideal solution.“As our
electronic collection grew, our patrons and staff members
were faced with increasing challenges when searching for full-
text articles using the industry standard system we had. So in
2006 and2007 we implemented Serials Solutions’360 Link.”
With over 23,000 students and almost 2,700 academic staff
members, the need for Erasmus University’s Library to provide
immediate access to full text anywhere in its collection was
critical. After implementing Serials Solutions’360 Link, the
Library staff no longer had to spend unnecessary hours trying
to maintain and manage the vast collection of electronic
Ê
Erasmus University
Rotterdam Library
POPULATION SERVED:
STUDENTS
23,252
ACADEMIC STAFF
2,662
LOCATION
Rotterdam, Netherlands
CHALLENGES
• Effectively manage growth of e-Resource Collection.
• Successfully compete with open web search engines.
• Implement a seamless roll-out process
• Continue to maintain up-to-date library management
solutions.
FEATURED SERVICE
360 Link, The Summon Service
OTHER SERVICES
360 Resource Manager
BENEFITS
• Increased efficiency in management of e-Resources and
staff productivity.
• Response to student requests for‘Google-like’search
experience.
• ‘Big-Bang’rollout sees 90 per cent user increase.
• In the process of updating to new ERMS.
666-20121101
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Big Bang Rollout Tackles Technological Issues
A Serials Solutions®
Case Study

2. Big Bang Rollout Tackles Technological Issues Serials Solutions | page 2
TheErasmusUniversityRotterdamwasestablishedinitspresent
form in 1973, however its history dates back to 1913. Named
after the 15th century humanist and theologian, Desiderius
Erasmus Roterodamnus, the university has seven faculties,
focussing on three domains: Economics and Management,
Law, Culture and Society and Medicine and Health.
The principal tasks of Erasmus University Rotterdam are the
generation and transfer of knowledge through an inquisitive,
critical, analytical and flexible manner. The library provides
services to students, lecturers and researchers to help with
this goal. In doing so, it operates at the heart of the scientific
profession. The library stands for client orientation, innovation
and efficiency focussing the on professionalism, teamwork
and fair play.
666-20121101
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resources.“Our staff can now focus on more important duties
rather than constantly having to handle user questions and
complaints that arose. The Serials Solutions 360 Link has
provided an easy-to-use search channel, saving not only
students and academic staff time and effort, but our librarians
too,”Verwijmeren explained.
MEET STUDENT REQUESTS OF
‘GOOGLE-LIKE’ FAMILIARITY
With users comparing library search experiences with those
of internet search engines such as Google, Erasmus University
Library soon found itself inundated with student requests
to implement a solution with similar ease of use.“This was a
priority for us here at Erasmus. We couldn’t ignore the many
requests of our students, who are all familiar with a Google-
like web-searching experience. They wanted the same speed
and accuracy when working with our library collection. Prior
to our partnership with Serials Solutions, we were using A-Z
listings and cataloguing, and what we really needed was
one search box that would deliver fast, credible and relevant
results,”said Verwijmeren.
With several solutions providers to choose from, Erasmus
compiled a project group to determine the library’s functional
demands and proceeded to compare companies. Verwijmeren
explained:“We did a lot of research and gathered as much
information as possible on how web-scale discovery services
function. Through discussions with staff and students, we
narrowed down exactly what we were looking for and began
to consider providers who could meet these requirements.”
After piloting several solutions from competitors, Erasmus
Library’s project group concluded Serials Solutions offered
the ideal solution in its Summon Service.“After the successful
implementation of 360 Link, we turned once again to
Serials Solutions for a solution, and they suggested their
Summon Service. It was the perfect fit, and has transformed
our institution’s search experience, while also integrating
seamlessly into existing operations,”said Verwijmeren.
IMPLEMENTING A ‘BIG-BANG’ ROLLOUT
RETURNS POSITIVE FEEDBACK
“As the implementation of Summon would upgrade our
service dramatically, making them more user-friendly, we
decided a‘big-bang’implementation was appropriate. In
December 2009 we upgraded our system almost overnight,
and students and staff alike were able to access an effective
web-scale discovery service, offering functions like relevancy
ranked results, mobile accessibility, a scholarship filter and
“Did you mean?”suggestions,”Verwijmeren said.
The reaction to the Summon Service was apparent when
surveys showed a 90 per cent increase in use of local
databases between 2009 and 2010. The Erasmus University
Library then conducted a usability study which found that
77 per cent of subjects used the engine more than twice a
week, with 81 per cent confirming they believed it would
successfully deliver the desired result.
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP MAINTAINS
UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGIES
On the back of the successful implementation of Serials
Solutions’360 Link and Summon Service, Erasmus University
Library is in the process of upgrading to Serials Solutions’
Electronic Resource Management System (ERMS), a move to
ensure the university offers its patrons the most up-to-date
technological resources.
Hosted at Serials Solutions’central data centre, ERMS is
an integrated solution, accessed through a user-friendly
web interface.“Because it is a hosted solution, the library
staff can spend more time focussing on managing the
e-resources, rather than having to maintain the software
onsite, essentially saving us time and money throughout the
lifecycle of our electronic resources,”explained Verwijmeren.
“Erasmus University’s library has experienced good support
from Serials Solutions in the past. For the next six months we
will focus on the implementation of ERMS, and as a proven
trustworthy company I have no doubt Serials Solutions will
continue to support us every step of the way.”