Introduction
All Together Now: Adventures in Collaborative ERM
Connect with a Colleague
Provide Name position and one of the following….
What has made you smile recently?
A hobby or interest you enjoy outside of work
Something that makes your day better
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Origin of Topic
In the context of emerging technologies, expanding digital initiatives, and AI ubiquity, how do we navigate this changing tech landscape? What is most important?
My Perspective
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Agenda
Elements of ERM
What does the work look like?
Electronic Resource Management (ERM)
Solving E-resource challenges requires a kaleidoscope of :
Build a network of trust between colleagues from many areas of work.
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What is it?
Technical aspects of Solving E-resource challenges
Bridges the gap between systems, vendors and users
Requires investigating many Library Mysteries
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Patterns in Library Mysteries
Merged Records
Gaps in User Understanding
Incorrect Records from GTI
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Patterns of Library Mysteries
CDI Linking Issues
Date Range
Open Access
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Each Ticket Requires Collaboration
*These situations uncover underlying issues requiring larger project
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Invisible Labor
If we were maintaining a physical collection, it would be clearer the scope of the work but growing digital collections make it
-Garcia-Olvera, B., & Vargas, C. G.
Human Input
Requires upkeep, feedback, training, trouble shooting, strategic planning and applied understanding
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Changing Library Catalog
What’s in a name
What is the CSUSM Library Catalog?
A: Record of items owned by the library including access points
B: Pamphlet that comes in the mail selling books
C: Aggregator of metadata from millions of records from a variety of sources
D: Complete collection of songs by musician
Answer in Chat
From Repository to Aggregator
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GTI-Scope
The Global Title Index is an aggregator of metadata. It allows access to the collection of any institution that has Rapido, it also allows us to complete Interlibrary loan through Rapido. Many libraries have access to over 1 million items.
CDI-Scope
Central Discovery Index is an indexing tool for scholarly and academic material worldwide. Includes subscribed, purchase, Open Access items. Contains mostly metadata and constantly Ingests information, represents over 5 billion items and alternate access options.
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Values Approach to ERM
Being “Human Centered” managing electronic resources
What values apply to ERM work?
Answer in the chat
Filling the Gap…
EResources Function Use
Educates/Advocates
Ambiguity
Flexibility
ERM Values:
Connected to NASIG Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians
Consider Other’s Views
Relationships
Communication
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Primo Records
Primo records are generated as the system searches
In order to generate a record:
Internal Education Effort:
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Who’s Who
Who can we turn to? Who do we rely on? Who is this for?
Teaching and Learning
User Services
Reserves
Metadata
Resource Sharing
Dev Core
Acquisitions
Outreach
User Experience (UX)
Electronic Resource Management
CSU ULMS
What a Web!
Other CSUs
Circuit Libraries
Vendors/Support
Who’s on Your Team?
Who can you ask questions to?
Who can provide training?
How to know if you’re “doing it right”?
Keep it Human
User Driven Improvements
Primary Users:
Link Resolver tickets, build relationships, understanding, user perspectives, and direction for larger projects
Students as main Users
Library Colleagues as Users
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Strategies
“We focus more on getting things done than on getting the right things done.”
-Slow librarianship
Building a Web
Strategies:
*All with the goal of partnership
“Future success in ERM will depend on deeper collaboration across libraries, consortia, and vendors. Libraries should continue to pool expertise, negotiate shared agreements, and develop joint repositories and knowledge bases.”
-Zhao S. et al.
.Electronic Resources Management in North American Academic Libraries.
Partnership
Collaborating within Department
Collaborating Across Departments
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Partnership
Colleagues as Customers
Leveraging internal expertise
Build Trust through service/collab
Building Understanding Across Departments
Listen historical knowledge
Changing structures
Clarifying within Department
Strong historical knowledge
Explain Changing structures
Connecting Across Campus
Faculty Association Workshops
Support Subject specialist/first year
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Moving Forward
Current and Future Projects
Work in Common
User Experience (UX):
Teaching and Learning
(TAL):
User Services (US):
Let’s talk about it!
Discussion Questions:
Who are your main collaborators?
Who makes your work possible?
Who is missing from your ecosystem?
What are some past interdisciplinary projects? What might be possible?
Who Across Campus or the CSU is doing parallel work?
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References
ERM core competencies. https://www.nasig.org/Competencies-Eresources
Garcia-Olvera, B., & Vargas, C. G. (2026). Making Access Possible: The Human Impact of Digital Initiatives. Information Technology and Libraries, 45(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.5860/ital.v45i1.17431
Le Cunff, A.-L. (2026). Tiny experiments: how to live freely in a goal-obsessed world (A.-L. Le Cunff, Ed.). Profile Books.
Muldoon, J., Bloomsbury, publisher, Graham, M., & Cant, C. (2024). Feeding the machine : the hidden human labor powering A.I. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Rosener, A. (Ed.). (2026). Slow librarianship : reflections and practices. Library Juice Press.
Zhao, S. Luo, R. & Zhou, G. Electronic Resources Management in North American Academic Libraries. in Digital Library - Concepts, Challenges, and Future Directions. Intech Open, 10 June 2026. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1226419
Contact
Carly N. Tapia
cgarzon@csusm.edu
Thank you!
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