Electronic Resources In Libraries

            Electronic resources provide libraries with a host of new abilities that allow them to enhance the services they offer their patrons. There are several different advantages to using electronic resources in place of, or in addition to, traditional library materials. The most useful of which may be the ability of a library to expand its reach outside its physical location and interact with library patrons wherever they may be. No longer will a patron need to be physically present in order to access their library’s collection, as it is now available to anyone who has access to the internet (as well as an appropriate device).

            Reaching outside the library isn’t the only physical benefit, as retaining a digital collection of electronic resources has completely shifted the paradigm of how to use library space. It may no longer be necessary to increase a library’s footprint when increasing the size of its collection. Many libraries have seen the benefit of using space that would otherwise be taken up by physical material and repurposing it as meeting or study space. The library’s building itself remains important, but it is no longer the main factor to consider when judging what resources the library has the ability to offer.

            The downside is that acquiring and maintaining electronic resources is a more complex task than the old way of buying physical books and periodicals. Not only is there a bevy of legal issues that are still being considered concerning intellectual property rights and fair use, but it is even more difficult to maintain an electronic collection in a way that remains transparent and accessible. Librarians did not have to consider usage agreements with every book that they bought previously. Electronic resources, on the other hand, require constant management and updating to provide correct access to patrons. Often it looks as if the collection itself is hard to pin down as subscriptions and URLs change at the whim of the publisher.

            Many libraries have had to deal with these and other issues while trying to implement their electronic resource collections. The video below is a symposium on how to best build ebook collections, and the challenges a librarian might encounter when doing so.