E‐journals: A How‐to‐Do‐It Manual for Building, Managing and Supporting Electronic Journal Collections

Citation

Chawner, B. (2006), "E‐journals: A How‐to‐Do‐It Manual for Building, Managing and Supporting Electronic Journal Collections", Online Information Review, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 597-598. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520610706479

This practical manual provides advice and methods for developing and managing e‐journal collections for librarians at both ends of the e‐journal spectrum: those who are just beginning to develop their e‐journal collections, and also those who wish to improve access to a substantial collection of e‐journals from a range of vendors.

Curtis begins with three background chapters. The first covers the evolution of different types of e‐journals, their characteristics, and some of the issues associated with their use. The next chapter discusses the information‐seeking behaviour of different types of e‐journal users, including not only academic and research library users, but also school students and public library patrons. The third chapter discusses the need for changed staff roles and responsibilities when e‐journals become a significant part of a library's collection. Practical issues such as collection development, licensing and authentication, and ordering and receiving e‐journals are discussed next, and Curtis concludes with chapters on providing user services and analysing usage data.

The book's strength lies in its practical approach – for example, the section on licensing includes model licenses and licensing guidelines, with suggestions for what should be included or excluded from a license. This is followed by tips for managing licenses. In a similar vein, the chapter on user services covers a range of options, from Web lists to full cataloguing. Some advanced topics, such as OpenURL are covered only at an introductory level. Each chapter begins with a chapter overview that outlines its main sections, and ends with references and suggestions for further reading. There are five appendices, which include sample collection policies, tips for standardising titles for Web lists, and a simple way of using a spreadsheet to create a Web‐ready list of e‐journal titles. There is a detailed subject index. The writing style is clear and easy to read, suitable for this type of manual.

The strength of this book comes from the author's experience in developing and providing access to a large e‐journal collection at the University of Nevada, Reno, complemented by her frequent use of library examples. This Facet edition appears to be identical to the original Neal‐Schuman one (2005, ISBN 1555704654), with most of the examples from American libraries. This failure to tailor the content to a different audience is disappointing, and it is particularly evident in the section on legal aspects of licenses, with numerous references to US legislation. Nonetheless, this book is a welcome addition to the emerging literature on managing e‐journal collections, and it (or its Neal‐Schuman twin) is recommended for professional collections in any library dealing with e‐journals.