Electronic resources have evolved to become one of the most important resources within the library’s collection. The growths of these resources and the players involved within this area have provided library users with another alternative to obtain information. When implemented correctly with library assistance (library trainings, reference consultations and so forth), library users can access these electronic resources anywhere in the world with relative ease as long as there is an internet connection. Geographic barriers are no longer an issue and information can be obtained in a just-in-time manner. This paper describes how KAUST library built its electronic resources and how they grew into what it is today. Issues such as manpower, expertise level, budget, ERM tools, library-vendor relations and library-user communication will also be elaborated in the paper. Despite its drawbacks, KAUST library has managed to overcome most of them and strived to improve certain areas of concern. The paper will also describe the library’s ERM future directions and strategic planning. KAUST University was opened in September 2009 and it started out with its first cohort of 800 graduate students (25% female) taught by 100 faculties. The main areas of study focus on science and engineering divisions consisting mainly of: Mathematics and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. From a demographic snapshot taken in 2010, 36% of the student body came from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, 34% from Asia, 21% from Americas, 5% from Europe and 4% from Africa (alZahrani, R. , Branin, J. and Yi , 2012). The university library, when first started, had about 10 staff. The library is known to have a “state-of-the-art learning and information resource center supporting graduate education and advanced scientific research” (KAUST, 2010). The library subscribed to major science databases, electronic journals and books. It also offers a myriad of services from document delivery requests, textbook services, reference assistance and library trainings and consultations just to name a few.

1. IFLA—the global voice of libraries
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3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/
dune_uk/9309945018/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaust_photos/3546363593/

4. Inaugurated
in
2009
Globally
renowned
graduate
research
university
that
makes
significant
contribuons
to
scienfic
and
technological
advancement,
and
will
play
a
crucial
role
in
the
development
of
Saudi
Arabia
First
cohort
of
students
of
800
graduate
students
(25%
female)
taught
by
100
faculty
King Abdullah Uni of Sci and Tech,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

5. 3
broad
science
and
engineering
divisions:
• Math
and
Computer
Science
• Physical
Sciences
• Chemical
and
Life
Sciences
King Abdullah Uni of Sci and Tech,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

6. Demographics:
• 36%
of
the
student
populaon
were
coming
from
Saudi
Arabia
and
the
Middle
East,
• 34%
from
Asia,
• 21%
from
the
Americas,
• 5%
from
Europe,
and
• 4%
from
Africa
King Abdullah Uni of Sci and Tech,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/moafaq/7643959002/

8. 3
stories
high
and
“clad
in
translucent
marble
and
glass”
• 14,000
square
meters
of
space
• 150
public
workstaons
• Wireless
network
connecvity
• 400
seats
• Quiet
and
Group
study
areas
• PC
Lab
• Meeng
and
presentaon
room
• Copy
center
Café
KAUST Library

9. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nbalonso/5475046368/

10. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssy3/8007666138/

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/42943189@N05/3973461821/

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssy3/8007689024/

13. London
Meeng
in
2008
• Hosted
by
University
for
senior
admin
staff
and
faculty
members
• Conducted
survey:
Obtain
overview
on
the
needed
library
resources.
Done
by
a
local
vendor
• Substanal
amount
of
budget
was
set
aside
for
the
subscripon
and
‘purchase’
of
perpetual
content
The Early Days

14. Notable:
No
professional
librarians
were
involved
during
that
stage
The Early Days

15. • Local
vendor
was
given
exclusive
rights
for
the
design
and
implementaon
of
the
new
digital
library
system
• Library
do
not
have
much
bargaining
power
in
terms
of
negoang
the
prices
and
license
agreements
The Early Days

16. http://www.flickr.com/photos/69915112@N08/9330454351/

17. • Access
issues.
IT
and
Library
work
closely
to
ensure
that
the
IP
range
was
established
and
configured
correctly.
• Altho
KAUST
had
a
state
of
the
art
computer
network,
it
was
new
and
untested.
Authencaon
issues,
IP
address
ranges
and
VPN
connecons
–
Not
enrely
worked
out.
Challenges

18. • Negoang
license
agreements
with
publishers
thru
several
start-­‐ups
were
confusing
and
me
consuming
Challenges

19. • Library
appointed
local
vendor
to
design
a
user
interface
for
the
access
of
the
electronic
resources
User Interface

20. • Informaon
regarding
the
electronic
resources
were
kept
in
Excel
and
Hard
Drive
E-Resources Management
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dareenz/6872461535/

21. 2010:
Turning
point.
1. Amendment
of
the
electronic
resources
procurement
policy.
2. Migraon
of
DigitalLibraryPlus
to
Integrated
Library
System
from
Innovave
Interfaces
Turn-Around

22. Processing
the
renewals
and
all
new
products
requests
directly
with
the
publishers.
Negoang
the
cost,
issuing
the
purchasing
orders,
and
following
up
on
payments.
Sehng
up
the
plan
for
support
services
with
local
vendors
through
bidding.
Turn-Around

23. II.
Support
services:
Indirect
services
such
as
provision
of
trainings
for
library
users
will
be
provided
by
local
vendors
and
paid
by
the
university.
Turn-Around

24. • Library
Subject
Specialist:
Research
secon
responsible
for
assessing,
evaluang
and
selecng
the
electronic
resources
for
the
library
Collection Development
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssy3/8007700059/

25. • Focus
more
on
Science
and
Technical
collecons
Collection Development
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssy3/8007696987/

26. Assessment
stage:
• Gehng
feedback
from
faculty
members,
students,
post-­‐docs
and
researchers
• Negoated
trial
periods
from
the
publishers
for
the
electronic
resources
product
• Checked
usage
stascs
aker
the
trial
period
Collection Development

27. Assessment
stage:
• Electronic
resources
were
checked
for
their
subject
coverage
and
the
relevancy
of
their
usage
with
regards
to
the
university
research-­‐based
subjects
available
Collection Development

28. Assessment
stage:
• Specialists
consulted
and
conducted
face-­‐to-­‐
face
interviews
with
their
respecve
faculty
members
• Each
Specialists
were
assigned
to
specified
schools
Collection Development

29. • Relevancy
of
the
electronic
resources
with
regards
to
the
subjects
taught
in
the
university
• Price
fihng
into
budget
alloled
or
in
other
words
value
for
money
• Currency
of
the
informaon
Selection Criteria

30. Selection Criteria
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssy3/8007684503/

31. • Research
Specialist
and
IT
department
worked
together
to
negoate
with
the
publisher
to
agree
to
an
acceptable
price
• Acquisions
Team:
Handle
the
payments
and
ensuring
access
is
available
Negotiation and License Agreement

32. • Ensure
that
all
electronic
resources
can
be
accessed
by
authorized
users
on
and
off
campus
• Add
/
Update
details
into
E-­‐Journals
A-­‐Z,
OPAC
• Ensure
electronic
resources
work
with
the
link
resolvers
Implementation

33. Future Directions