The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has unveiled Managing Electronic Resources, a guide published by Neal-Schuman Publishers. The resource provides advice on the tools and best practices in the field of electronic resource management, helping librarians tackle their workload while saving time, effort and money.
Editor Ryan O. Weir and his contributors are seen to present a host of innovative ideas to help get the job done with greater ease. This includes tips on how to track and assign staff tasks electronically, accumulate and assimilate information from departmental and interdepartmental meetings, manage e-mail and written correspondence, track renewals and evaluate and negotiate license agreements.
Other chapters address coping with economic issues, acquiring electronic resources, negotiating resource licensing and reconciling with payment systems. Also covered are making electronic resources accessible, gathering, evaluating and communicating statistical usage information, and preparing staff to facilitate the shift to electronic. Management tools for keeping electronic stats, tracking vendor contact information, and creating an ILL permissions and restrictions database are other topics discussed.
